Last updated on January 17th, 2026 at 06:11 am
Heads Up: Holdem HD (1-on-1 Poker) – Card Game Review
Heads Up: Holdem HD (1-on-1 Poker) is a Card/Entertainment/Casino game from Headlight Software, Inc., first launched in 22nd April 2010.
It’s rated 17+ and currently has 27+ ratings on the App Store.
What Makes Heads Up: Holdem HD (1-on-1 Poker) Stand Out
Play 1-on-1 Texas Hold'em anywhere. Play against your iPad's smart opponents, or Wirelessly against a friend, each on your own iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch*. Or even play a friend by sharing one iPad like a chessboard too.
Easy and elegant touch controls keep the mechanics of the game simple and beautiful. (The iPhone version placed in the "Best App Ever" awards for Casino Games.)
ONE PLAYER:
- For one player, play against a smart AI opponent.
- Several AI personalities (with widely different styles and who all play advanced poker strategies) keep it fun and challenging even for expert poker players.
- Upgrade, then beat each to earn their card protector to use in the game.
TWO PLAYER:
- Awesome wireless play. You and a friend, each on your own iPad. Or play on your iPad against an iPhone or iPod touch with "Heads Up: Hold'em" too!
- GameCenter online multiplayer lets you play against anyone in the world!
- Share one device and use your iPad like a chess board between two people. Heads Up: Hold'em can either just deal the cards (letting you use real world chips) or both deal the cards and let you bet virtual chips onscreen against a friend.
FEATURES:
- No Limit Texas Hold'em
- Upgrade to play with up to 50,000 chips. Choose your blinds, starting stack size, and how quickly the blinds increase. (In the Settings)
- Easy and intuitive touch controls keep the mechanics of the game simple. Spin to set your bet amount, then push the pile of chips into the "bet" circle to place your bet. Or drag your cards to the center to fold. In two player games, simply slide the chip off your cards to peek.
- Beautiful photographic images and realistic sounds make it feel right.
- AI opponents vary from aggressive to careful.
- Upgrade for dozens of awards to earn and use as card protectors in the game.
- "Peek Counter" prevents cheating in two player games.
** Wirelessly vs an iPhone or iPod touch will require one of the regular iPhone, non HD versions of Heads Up: Hold'em.
This Card game offers engaging gameplay and regular updates for mobile players.
Player Feedback
As a newer release, Heads Up: Holdem HD (1-on-1 Poker) is building its player community. Early feedback suggests .
Recent Updates & Development
Latest Update: 9th February 2016
Recent improvements include:
This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.
Bug fixes
Download & Availability
Heads Up: Holdem HD (1-on-1 Poker) is available through the official App Store for iOS devices.
Get Heads Up: Holdem HD (1-on-1 Poker) on App Store
Requirements: Requires iPad Air / iPad Air (Cellular) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina, Cellular) / iPad Air 2 / iPad Air 2 (Cellular) / iPad Mini 3 / iPad Mini 3 (Cellular) / iPad Mini 4 / iPad Mini 4 (Cellular) or later.
Compatible with iPhone and iPad devices.
Player Experience Highlights
Community Insight:
Have had game for some time. Single player, just for fun and challenge. Used to be quite stable, but past three weeks or so, crashing…crashing…crashing! Yes, our IOS is version 12. Did they make changes for newer IOS and make it unstable when 12 is the IOS.
Fun heads up. No waiting for slow players. Cards dealt quickly. Good practice game for beginners . Most computer based games play only per logic…have seen this one try and bluff so has a bit more programming.
Best one on one Hold us game we've found…but sometimes it plays like it knows your cards.
The Bluetooth and online multiplayer are not working.
Bluetooth/wireless does not work with the new iOS update version 14.5.1.
Fun game but it crashes all the time. We quit.
This was an incredible app for playing heads up with friends. It seems theres no online multi player or blue toooth anymore, RIP great game.
All three computer players get much better cards. Just to make sure we went "all in" against all three players and lost 75 % of the time. If you want frustration play this app.
They actually want money for this game. The AI stinks. The game keeps going off and you have to report in the computer gets much better points then the player.
Logged in to play against a friend, wifi version doesn't work, Bluetooth version doesn't work, comp AI doesn't work. Don't buy this.
Our favorite poker game. Still after 5 years. Update: we've seen a few reviews that claim that the computer cheats in its own favor. We disagree. In heads up play, if you expect to win 60 or 70 percent of hands played you're either dreaming or playing some really poor opponents. Does the computer opponent get lucky? Sometimes. On the other hand, we've seen the computer make some pretty outrageous bets on risky calls. That's not the way to program a cheating app.
Very cool. One of the best we have played. Easy to learn and use.
Fun, light entertainment. You can play by yourself or with others. Won't get you ready for Vegas but fun none the less.
The game is very good but recently it has started to freeze in the midst of play. Excellent for practicing poker play when it operates functionally . Nice if it stopped freezing.
Was a great game, but has started locking and freezing after latest os updates.
This used to be a favorite. However since the release of iOS 9.1, it crashes and freezes with loss of action. Sometimes we have to restart 5 to 8 times per hand.
We would love to have an opponent like this game. We're currently winning 78% after 84 games. The game never folds a bad hand and when we go all in the game will alway match the bet regardless of the hand it holds. It does bet aggressively but we have found it has no relation to the game's hand. If we have a respectable hand and go all in the games usually loses. If you love to win a lot of heads up hands this is the game for you. But don't use it to practice for a real game. No opponent would go all in with one pair.
Used to love this time waster but since the 9.0 OS upgrade it crashes constantly.
Fun game had it before but grated out on iOS 9. Deleted, redownloaded. Now it rashes all the time.
The app has been fun, but it needs an update for IOS 9. It keeps freezing and then crashing to the point of being unplayable.
The odds are so obviously set in the computer's favor. The only worthwhile part of the app is two player option.
Loved the game before OS and subsequent game upgrades. Now 1 grand or maybe 2 is all we get before it locks up. Is ok as a tv commercial diversion but useless for real poker.
We have to give it one star we would give it less if we could cause we paid for the up grade about a month ago and it just locks up when ever it try's to give us the upgrade it did see where we paid for it but it will not download the upgrade other than that it is a great way to have fun.
IPad Air, iOS 9 up to date. Freezes every game. Used to be a good game. Don't bother.
We agree with other reviewers that it cheats. The one player version will not let you win more than 53%. It starts pulling 4 to a flush and routinely filling inside straights on the last card; too often to be coincidence.
You'll be allowed to win some – 55% at best.
Used to play head to head with our daughter who has our old iPad. Doesn't work anymore because you have to have the same version to play head to head and you can't update it on the old IOS.
Used to be good, but now way too many ads.
This used to be a decent game. The newest update added so many ads you spend more time closing them than playing the game. Not worth it. We are deleting it from our iPad as soon as we post this review.
And plays surprisingly well for a small iOS app.
This game as well as the Omaha version are fun learning tools if you play yourself. We're having trouble with the online version. Whenever we finally do get connected the game ends prematurely. We don't know if the other people are quitting or if we get disconnected? Even with that trouble it's 3 and a half star fun but it could be 5 star fun if we can play others.
We used to like this game.. After the latest update the AI is jokingly bad.. Anyone with a basic understanding of probability can see the game is drastically skewed..they've wasted our time.. Don't waste yours.
Fun way to pass the time, very nice app.
Good graphics, AIs are interesting and fun to play. We are not a huge poker player, but this is fun for casual card players or more serious players. Can't wait to find someone to try the two iPad game with, but in the meantime, we are finding this to be our go-to time passer.
It don`t matter where you are waiting, this game makes the time pass by.
Computer stays in hand with garbage at times then makes a hand on the river, but play your odds, bluff at the right time and you will have fun.
If you like heads up this poker game is perfect.
Great game to play vs. Friends or computer. Smooth transition between hands. Good graphics.
Fun to play with friends via bluetooth.
This game will keep you playing for hours! Love it.
Your game keeps us going! We're 84 years old.
We enjoy the free version. You don't have to purchase chips to play either.
Fast, fun, challenging even in the free version. You can't go wrong with this game.
Im new to poker and this is giving us a fun way to learn.
This game is really fun…also teaches you the right moves to make…enjoy!!! :).
Nice game. Heads up is a lot of fun.
What a great game! We're new to hold em, this is not only fun, it's challenging. Love the graphics and fast action. Thank you.
Best poker app, lots of choices. Highly recommended.
Great app. Very fun and addicting. Our Grandmom and us can't stop playing it.
Fun to play, like how two people can play on the same iPad.
User feedback from Apple App Store
App Details
- Version: 4.4.2
- Size: 28.84 MB
- iOS: 7.0 or later
- Languages: EN
- Content Advisory: Frequent/Intense Simulated Gambling
- Developer: Headlight Software, Inc.
Last updated: 9th February 2016 | Genre: Card, Entertainment | Developer: Headlight Software, Inc.