Introduction
Even the most inexperienced poker player soon realizes that betting later in a round is strategically better than betting early in the round. This is simply because the later bettors have more information to go on when deciding what to do.
There are poker games, such as Texas Hold-em and Omaha, where your position doesn't change throughout the game. Players betting early fold much more often than players betting later. The role of dealer rotates around the table. This gives everyone both favorable and unfavorable position at some time in the rotation.
There are other games where the high hand showing bets first. While it's often better to have the high hand showing, the player to the right of the first better has a clear advantage. They know their own hand and can judge by the bets made before them if it is wise to stay in the game or to fold.
Many new poker players delay learning about pot odds. If you want to become more proficient at poker and to take advantage of favorable position, you need to learn as much as you can about pot odds.
Position Play in Games with a Flop
By definition, games with a flop have community cards. The flop is the first time you will see the community cards; and you see three cards on the flop. Many players stay in with poor hands hoping to improve into winners on the flop. While this does happen sometimes, it is extremely poor strategy as it fails to work much more often. In community card games, play very tight when you have poor position.
Players betting later in the round have the chance to bluff and win a pot even with a poor hand. This works especially when everyone else has checked ahead of you.
In games with community cards, there are also blinds. Depending on the table stakes, the blinds could be high enough to entice players to stay in for one round. This is where understanding pot odds comes in. You have to match the big blind to see the flop. It often is economically poor play to call the blind even in late position. But the blinds already have money in the pot. They may stay in with a poor hand to protect their investment.
Position Play in Stud
This variation of poker allows you to see the most cards. In 7-card stud you could see half the deck. The player with the best hand showing opens the betting so your position could change from round to round. Nevertheless, position does affect play. In the first round of betting you can bluff in late position with a marginal hand that you would fold in early position. It is easiest to "steal" a hand in the first round because players who haven't folded by the later rounds usually have decent hands. If you also have a decent hand you are no longer betting to steal the hand.
If you stayed in with a marginal hand and you are again in late position, you see all the hands before you and can use your judgment when it's your turn to bet.
Position Play in Draw
Draw poker presents a different kind of challenge to the player. S/he never sees their opponents' cards. Therefore, they must use other signals to help determine their course of play.
The clearest action by an opponent is the number of cards drawn. If an opponent draws only one card, it usually means drawing four to a flush or to an open-ended straight. It sometimes means drawing with two pair. If the hand you receive from your draw doesn't beat at least a straight or a flush you should not open if you are betting in early position.
If an opponent draws three cards it means s/he has either a pair or high cards. If you have a high pair or better you can chance a strong bet in early position.
Conclusion
Position play is often disregarded by inexperienced players; and if you are playing for very low stakes in a limit game, the effect of position will be far less pronounced than if you are playing for higher stakes. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to give position play some of your attention. It will result in more wins for you.
Of course, if you hope to play poker professionally or for relatively high stakes in pot limit or no limit games, then a thorough knowledge of position play is vital to your success. |
