Playing in Position

The importance of position can’t be stressed enough when it comes to the game of poker. The simple reason for this is: information. All the decisions we make at the poker table are (hopefully) based on the information we are able to gather in a given situation. One of the biggest differences between Texas holdem and a game like chess is that in poker the information is always incomplete.

We can’t know what cards our opponents are holding, but increasing information makes it possible for us to narrow down the possible holdings. It does not matter if you play online at sites like Bodog poker or Party Poker or at your local card room - having position on our opponent(s) (acting after him/her), give us an edge. Let’s take a closer look on how it affects our game.

The better position you have at the table the more hands you can play. When you enter the pot in late position you already have a lot of information about your opponents’ whereabouts. The risk that someone will raise after you have entered the pot is smaller and you also have a great advantage when you are one of the last to act in the coming betting rounds. Because of this you can loosen up your starting hand requirements.

If you sit in late position and is the first person to enter the pot you should usually do so with a raise. There are two reasons for this, first of all there is a possibility that everyone will fold and you will steal the blinds, secondly this will give you the initiative in the pot. Let’s say you raise preflop in late position and only the blinds call. There is a good chance that both your opponents will miss the flop and therefore check to you. If they do you can often win the pot by keeping the initiative and bet the flop no matter what you are holding. You chances to steal pots in general are greater in late position, even without raising preflop. It is often correct to take a stab at the pot when the players ahead of you show weakness by checking.

If you are in multi-way pots there is easier to play draws in late position, because you have a better grasp of what it will cost you to see the next card and you will also get free cards more often in late position when the other players check.

When you poker, both online and offline, always be aware of your position and remember that it is said that the money at the table usually move to the left (to the players with better position).

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