The Value of a Poker Position

A major strategy that forms the basis of so many strategies in poker is our poker position. Most wins are strategized from this concept.

Hand strength is often reinforced or weakened through our poker position. We gain advantage against stronger hands when we have a good position while a strong had may have us beat when we are in a bad position. Position is defined as where we are seated relative to other players' positions and especially that of the dealer's.

Another way of looking at it is how we are first or last to move or act in the game, especially betting-wise. We see this through how we act in relation to the dealer. The first to act—sometimes called early position, first position, early player, or under the gun—(often the worst position) are players seated on the first three positions left of the dealer. Middle players are those before the last three who are in late position. And late position, or late position, is the last three players clockwise, the dealer included. The dealer is always last to act. Late position is often the best position.

How are hands related to the positions we have? Here are some examples on hand and position relationship. If we're playing from an early position, we should restrict our hand plays with only the following: high pairs like AA, and face-card hands like KK, QQ and JJ. We also consider high suited hands like AK, AQ, KQ, AJ, KJ, QJ, and J10. "Suited" means cards of the same kind like hearts, spades, diamond, or clover. We also play high unsuited (of different kinds) hands like AK, AQ, and KQ. When in mid-position, we choose high suited hands like A10, K10, Q10, or high off-suit (unsuited) hands like AJ, A10, KJ, and the like. Middle pairs like 10 and 10, 9 and 9, and 8and 8 are also possible. When playing late position, we may play any of the above hands or suited connectors like 9 and 10, 7 and 8, and the like. We may also try playing small pairs up to 2 and 2 in this position. The wonder of this positioning is that we may also dare play with A8, A6, or other smaller numbers and an ace.

Needless to say, a live poker game is unpredictable. The above is a simple guide but not a winning formula. We must play according to what our present poker position allows us to.