Part: Part Twelve - Heads-Up

Punish the passive limper

Pre-flop
Heads-up • Blinds 400 / 800Pot 1,600 (2 BB)BBK9 20,000 (25 BB)YOUto actBTN 20,000 (25 BB)Passive opponentlimpsD

Heads-up against a passive opponent who limps the button (just completes) instead of raising. You're in the big blind with K♠9♣.

A passive opponent limps the button; you hold K♠9♣ in the BB. Best?

WhyRaise. A passive player who limps is surrendering - raise to punish it and take the initiative with a strong heads-up hand. Checking gives him a free flop he didn't earn; against passivity you ramp up the aggression.
What happensYou raise; he folds or calls and plays a pot out of position.  Punish the limp.
Against a passive heads-up opponent you attack relentlessly - raise his limps and bet when he checks, because he surrenders far too many pots.

Punish a passive heads-up opponent - raise his limps and keep betting; he folds and checks far too often to play back.