I was heads up against a fairly poor player, but all he did was try to trap. If he has top pair all he does is check to the river, and even on the river at times. Same goes for if he has nothing. He doesn't bluff hardly ever. If you raise him and he has nothing, he folds, but it's always for small pots because he's always checking to the river! It's very frustrating and I was wondering how you would play a person like this. I haven't found the best technique to win against this dead money.
You already know the answer, just need to listen to yourself.
"you raise him and he has nothing, he folds"
Sure it may be for small pots but it's money, and money earned not lost at that.
Point is if you have to win small pots it may take a little longer but over time you will get him. So I say time is your friend, you don't have to play slow but the pots may be small but give it time and the money can and will come your way.
If you got a good read on him kind of like you said already than I say bluff more than usual and if he folds than you get the pot (may be small but your also winning more hands than usual because of the bluffing and him folding) if you bluff and he calls you back than back off and let him check it since it sounds like he's not going to raise, so even on your bluffs when he has something it may not be to bad because you may not even be forced to fold a bluffed hand if all he does is call your bet and than checks the rest of the way.
You should love to play against someone who plays like that. You can bluff him out of pots when he doesn't have it. And when he does have top pair, you can outdraw him for free and take a big pot from him on the end.
I dont see a problem at all. If anything, this guy is a f.uckin moron! Be happy you are playing him.. i wish i had competition like this.
Heads up you could always raise preflop to build the pot when you think you have the best hand. Then you can bet the flop not on the strength of your cards, but on the possibility that it missed him. Give him a chance to fold after you get him in for a raise preflop. Winning heads up requires an excellent read on your opponent and a certain degree of aggressiveness.
