Position in poker
Great card strategist David Sklansky, author of numerous theoretical works on poker, very accurately expressed regarding the position: "In horse races it is the best to be the first, but in the game of poker it is the best to be the last." Whoever makes the first bet, does not know how the other players will react. Player who bets the last already has some idea of his opponents based on their bets and he can make a decision using this information. That is why after each round Dealer button moves so nobody would have the advantage of position.
It is always important to change your game, depending on your position at the table. Here you will find a description of the advantages and disadvantages of the four key positions: early, late, middle, and on the blinds. Different number of players at the table can affect your position. Below we will consider cases with a full table of 10 players.
Early position UTG-1, UTG-2, UTG-3 (1st, 2nd and 3rd places to the left of the Big blind)
The player sitting to the left of the big blind is called "under the gun» (under the gun), he makes the first bet on the flop.
You have to play very tight from the early position because you do not know how to the other players will act after you. If you make a bet, they can raise it up, and you’ll have to pay two bets to see the flop. If you raise, they can fold, and will get only the blinds. Typically, the early position should be played tighter than the middle or late position. You do not want to be raised or even re-raised with your pockets fours for example. In this case, most likely, your chances of winning the bank comparing to the amount of the follow up bet made by your opponent won’t be in your favor and you will lose your original bet.
Middle position of MP-1, MP-2, MP-3 (4th, 5th and 6th places to the left of the Big blind)
Middle position allows you to play much more hands, but you still have to play tight, as there are still minimum 4 players after you (in the game with 10 players). However, compared to the early position, you have an advantage because you already know how the players have played in front of you. If you had several callers before you, you might have the needed odds to make a call. If everybody folds before you, then you can try to raise the pot and try to steal the blinds (more effective in late position). Whatever you do, remember when you are in the Middle position there are players after you who can re-raise your bet. Make sure that your hand is strong enough to play further in this hand.
Late position CO, BTN (1 seat to the right of the Dealer (button) and Dealer (on the button)
On average from late position you can play much more hands than you would play in early or middle position. This is because most of the players at the table have already made their move. By your turn to act you'll already know whether there were a lot of raises before you, or just a lot of callers, or may be everybody folded their card prior to your move. Whatever it is, you will have more information about your opponent’s hands. The key to a successful game in late position is to use this information wisely. If there were raises before you, then you will still need a strong hand to make a call, but if there were only calls and folds before you, then you will be able to play a much weaker hand, because the chances of winning the bank will justify your pre-flop call. Also, remember that in next hand you will be playing in the late position as well. It is very important. If you make a raise, then in the next round of betting opponents could just check to you, anticipating another raise from you. In this case you can also check if you wish to see the next card for free. It’s much easier to play in the late position, but for this you need to use the received information wisely.
The Blinds SB, BB (small blinds, big blinds)
After the flop you can play your in-blinds position just as you would play from the early position. However, the blinds before the flop, this is two players who get to act last. Thus playing pre-fop from in-blinds position has pretty much the same hands selection criteria as when you play from the late position. The small blind is already in the pot. Therefore, in-blinds position player can play even more hands then the player from the late position. Some players almost always play their hands from the small blind position if there was no raise before them. However, it is better to change your game and not to be too predictable. Do not fold your hands from in-blind position too often, if the pot has been raised before you, as opponents quickly will take advantage of your tight game at the blinds and will always try to steal your blinds.
In the big blind, with no raise before you, you can play with any cards, because your bid is already in the bank. If you have a weak hand, just check it, if strong – raise it up. Change your game behavior from time to time; for example, raise the pot with connectors (76; J10; 109 etc.) or when you think there is a big chance that your opponent will fold to your raise. The main thing is not to raise too often and not to be easily readable for the opponents. From time to time see the free flop with medium and strong hands from Big blind position (if there was no raise before you). If there was a raise before you, then you should play tight.
The Bluff
Playing in late position gives you the great opportunities for a bluff. For example, if all the players before you have checked, you can either make a bet, or see the next card for free. In late position you have also more opportunities for semi-bluff. This means that you can make a bet or raise with his hand, which at the moment is not the best, but easily could improve, because it has a lot of Outs. If everybody has folded before you and you're in the late position, you can raise a pot with the hand which you would not even play if you were in the early position, because now you have a chance to steal the blinds without any contest.
