Importance of Poker Position

"Poker is like real estate. The three most important factors in deciding how much to raise are: location, location, location." Chris Ferguson

Poker position is power! Texas Holdem is all about people and position. Every seasoned poker player agrees poker position in no limit Holdem is extremely important.

Position is important in most competitive games...

In baseball, the home team has the advantage of batting last. Last at bats allow the home team in the ninth inning to know exactly what to aim for.
In football, field position frequently determines the outcome the game.

Here we will discuss poker and how to play position.

POSITION DEFINED

Poker position is where you are at relative to the dealer's button. A 10-player Texas Holdem table is broken up into three sections.

Early - The first four seats left of the dealer are early position and considered the worst seat at a poker table. You need a stronger hand to act from this position because you have more players acting after you who may raise or re-raise the pot.
Middle - The next three places at the table are in middle position.
Late - The last three spots are in late position and is prime real estate at the poker table.

TABLE POSITION TERMS

The following is a brief description of four position terms heard frequently at a Holdem table:

Under the Gun: Is the first player to act as soon as the cards have been dealt. It's the person to the immediate left of the big blind.
First Position: Being first to act after the flop means you are in the small blind. After the cards hit the board, you must act FIRST before everyone else.
Cut Off: This is the player to the right of the button. Poker players refer to it as the cutoff because that position often "cuts off" the dealer's power to steal blinds by betting.
"Dealer," "Dealer's Button," or "Button": This is the preferred position as the player in the dealer's seat will be the last to act on all betting rounds.

LATE POSITION BENEFITS

Here are several benefits being on the button or in late position:

Being last is the best place to bluff. If the cards on the board are low and few players involved, bet no matter what you are holding. Periodically, you will be able to scare the rest of the players out of the pot.
Being last is to see a cheap flop. When you have outs (cards you need to make your hand a winner) after the flop, you should bet if nobody else does. Much of the time players involved in the hand will check around to you after the Turn, even though they own a decent hand.
Being last is seeing the bets of all your opponents. It is important to capitalize on being in late position. Players show their online tells through betting and acting last gives you information about them.

POSITION STRATEGY

There is certainly a difference how you play your starting hands in EP, MP and LP. You should follow the poker position strategy found below:

Early
- Raise with AA, KK, and AK.
- Call with AK, AQ, KQ, QQ, JJ, and TT and fold everything else.
Middle
- Call with 99,88,AJ,AT,QJ,,AQ and KQ
Late
- Call with A7 and above, KT, QT, JT, and small pairs.

POSITION ADVANTAGES

Early Position. The advantages are few with this particular place at the table, however being first to act does enjoy two distinctive advantages:

Check raising is much easier here than any other places. To successfully check-raise, you must know the person acting after you will bet, the bet you intend to raise.
Feeler bet out of early position normally signals more strength. This is a "psychological" use of acting first. However, the conditions need to be right for this to be effective. Sitting at a tight table the circumstances are just right for such a tactic, however if you're at a loose table with lots of action then do not try it

Middle Position. This poker position at the table enjoys less of the benefits of acting last, but not entirely the downfalls of acting first.

Because you are in-between, you are free to play a few more hands than you normally would.
The opportunities exist to improve your position by players folding after you. One of the tactics you should employ is if nobody before you is showing strength, you can bet hoping the players behind you fold. Occasionally when holding a decent hand it is worthwhile to bet with the aim of stealing the button.

Late Position. This is the best place in Texas Holdem. The dealer's button allows you to gather information about other players at the table. Here are a few advantages:

You are free to play more hands because you know your positional advantage is set for every betting round the length of the hand.
Another advantage of poker position is the positional bet or raise. When you are acting last and the flop gives you a strong drawing hand, you can bet or raise. Through your aggressive betting, it is quite possible everyone will check to you on the Turn.

Poker position is an important consideration in how you play your hand, and you'll possess at least one advantage over your opponents by always keep this consideration in mind.

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