*FUNDAMENTALS: Position

Position is a critical component of every
poker hand you play. Good players
understand and use it to their advantage,
poor players dont.

Even though most times the person with
the best hand will win, there are many
situations where your position will allow you
to win even though you may not have
the best 2 cards in your hand.

Lets define position:
Position is where you sit
in relation to the button/dealer

Lets also define the terms Late, Middle
and Early position for an eight player table.

LATE Position (LP):
The Button and the seat Right of the button
(referred to as the "Cut-Off" position).

MIDDLE Position (MP):
The Three Seats Right of
Late Position Players.

EARLY Position (EP):
The Seats Right of Middle Position Players.
This includes Under-the-gun and
both Blinds after the flop.

The BEST position is the Button
because you will be last to act
in all but the first (preflop) round
of betting. By acting after the
other players at your table,
you gain information about
their hands by what they
have done this betting round.

Some will fold, others may call..
which tells you its unlikely they
have a big hand. If you have a
strong hand and they check/call
(weakness), you will bet. If your
opponent bets, then you will raise
because you have a strong hand.
Either way, you are getting the
maximum about of money into the pot.

Having position on your opponents
allows you to apply pressure
(by betting/bluffing) regardless of
the strength of your hand.
If the flop missed your opponents
and they check it to you in late position,
you have the opportunity to bet and
win the pot without showing your hand.

If you are playing at a strong,
tough table, i recommend rarely
playing anything but a Very Strong
hand out of position.


The WORST position therefore is
one seat left of the button. The earlier
your position, the more likely someone
behind you has a strong hand.
Even when you have a strong hand
in early position, you must still decide
whether the best play is to check-raise
or to bet out your strong hand immediately.
If you check and your opponent checks
behind you, you have lost an opportunity
to bet (build the pot) with what is now likely
the best hand (since he checked) .
If you bet out your strong hand there are
still many players left to act behind you,
any of which could call or raise you which
leaves you with difficult decisions ahead.

When deciding what starting hands you
will play, you must always consider your position.
The Earlier your position, the stronger your
starting hands must be because you will be
required to act before your opponents.
Consequently, the Later your position,
the more you can relax your starting hand
requirements because you will act after
your opponents which will give you information
about their hand.

Remember this little tidbit: "Money at
the poker table flows in a clockwise direction.
The chips generally flow from the blinds
towards players seated in late position." (1.)

Thats how important position is.


1. Phil Gordon's Little Green Book,
Phil Gordon, 2005.