NBC is bringing attention to Heads Up poker the way that ESPN made the world aware of Texas Hold ‘Em Poker.  NBC has been sponsoring the NBC Heads Up Poker Championship for six years and televising the events as well as making them available online on sites like Hulu.  Though the games aren’t as prestigious as the World Series of Poker, at least not yet, they are attracting many of the top poker pros around.  This year’s event at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas attracted the likes of Chris Moneymaker, Phil Laak and Tom “durrrr” Dwan. 

If you can’t make it to Las Vegas, you can play heads up games in online poker rooms.  Matches between Tom “Durrrr” Dwan and Isildur1 have already become the stuff of legend and you can even find online records of the games and who went wrong where.  Which is why heads up poker games also tend to bring out the egos.  Whether it’s online or in a brick and mortar casino, heads up poker pits one player against another and if the players aren’t well matched,  that one on one relationship makes it all the more obvious who is the stronger player.  If the players are well matched, luck may come into play more, but keep in mind that for a good heads up game, you have to keep a cool head.  Poker play isn’t just betting the cards, it’s knowing how to face off against an opponent.  A strong player who can keep his ego in check can often push an equally strong player who loses  his cool into making the wrong decision. 

Heads Up Poker — it’s about skill, luck and egos.  Check on the NBC Heads Up Event on TV or on Hulu.com if you want to see poker brought to the essentials.