It’s All About Position

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2005 (By the PokerStrategyKing)

People come up to me all the time, beginners and experts alike with questions they have about they’re game. They range anywhere from basic poker strategy to how they played specific hands. As poker players, we should always look towards improving our game. So with some of these queries in mind I begin today’s column. I will focus on one major question in each one of these monthly sessions. Today’s question is : How important is table position?

Texas Holdem is known as a fixed position game rather than a random position one. in other words, the order in which players act each round is predetermined, rather than determined by the strength of the exposed cards as in stud. The advantage of acting last in Poker has already been noted. This means that you should be more selective of the hands you play in early position rather than those you play in late position.

Table position is an extremely importantly element in playing Texas Hold ‘Em. Poker is a game that relies on information. How much information can you derive from what is happening all around you is a key component of the advance players game. As a result, table position becomes an important tool here. Simply put, the later position you sit at a table, the more valuable information you will be exposed to.

The difference in the amount of information you will receive is what makes your position at the table important. The person to the left of the dealer is always at a disadvantage as they must act first throughout the hand. He does so without knowing whether these bets will be raised or called. Players that routinely bet out of position lose countless bets because they are forced to fold when someone in later position raises.

If you are unfortunate enough to find yourself in this position, it is usually wise to assume the worst and therefore, before you go out and bet money in the pot, to have a holding strong enough to make you willing to call a raise if it should occur. (If you bet on average hands and are raised, you are likely to be sucked into calling the raise or will just waste your initial bet if you do fold.) Pocket pairs, high suited premium cards and the like are the only ones you should really play in early position. I don’t recommend played low-suited cards or connectors out of early position.

By contrast, the person playing last will have the information you weren’t able to get, and is able to call with an average hand, if it is relatively cheap for him to do so, especially if others have also stayed in and contributed to the pot. In a late position, you may well stay in on hands that you would readily fold in early or mid positions. This is perfect for those suited connectors you love and low pocket pairs.

When you’re playing in a tournament, chips count is vital. You want to conserve your chips until you have very strong hands and can attack other players with them. If you pay attention to your starting position, you will be giving yourself an advantage over your opponents you play loosely without regard to position.

Until next time, may the chips fall your way.

(For more poker strategy and tips, please visit the PokerStrategyKing’s website at www.pokerstrategyking.com )

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