Poker Strategy - Playing Poker by Position

If you're a SMART card player, you will use every position at the card table to your advantage.

On the Button

The best position you have at the table is when you're on the "button." This means that you are the dealer. If you need help with this terminology, then you may want to also consider reading our introduction to Hold'em article.

When in this position, you need to play a bit more AGGRESSIVE and use it to your absolute advantage.

Let's say you are on the button and you're dealt a 10/J - which isn't exactly a monster. The action goes around the table and everyone has "limped in."

Now the action is to you. What do you do? Throw out a bet, because you've got great positioning.

After the flop, you get to see what everyone does before you have to act...

You'll have "control" over the table. The other players will most likely check to you since you made the preflop bet...

And, you'll get to study the other players' actions and body language before the action is back on you.

If you play more aggressive than usual while on the button, you're going to rake in more pots over the course of the night. So use it to your advantage.

Small Blind and 1st to Act Preflop

Now, there are 2 positions at the card table that most players HATE.

The positions are:

1. The small blind
2. First to act preflop

These positions are actually my personal FAVORITES.

Once you learn how to play these positions correctly, you can win a lot more poker hands and tournaments... almost INSTANTLY.

First, lets look at the small blind. (This means the dealer is just to the right of you.)

Example: You're dealt pocket 2's and "Josh" throws out a $20 preflop raise.

There are 4 other players that call the raise and the action in now on you.

The pot size is rather large...so you figure, why not and call the bet.

The flop hits 2,5,5 and you almost give off a smile (almost, but not quite!).

The action is on you first.

What do you do? You better check. You know that one of the other players at
the table is going to begin the betting for you.

Even if nobody has a hand, someone is going to try and steal this large pot.

They certainly don’t think this ugly flop helped anybody.

So you check. Josh is sitting on pocket rockets and fires out a $100 bet. Drew
is next to act and he doesn't have a damn thing but tries to buy the pot for $200 more.

Finally the action is back to you, who Josh and Drew have completely forgot about. You think for a few moments (mainly about what your going to buy with their money) and then you say those famous words...

"I'm all in."

Josh calls and Drew folds and you rake a huge pot.

This is how you play the small blind.

If you flop a good hand, check and let someone else start the betting.

1st to Act Before the Flop

The last positioning at the card table that I discuss is 1st to act before the flop. This means the big blind is on the right hand side of you.

This is the most DANGEROUS position but may become your favorite if you play it correctly.

Here's how NOT to play it:

You're dealt an A/10 and the action is on you first. This is a fairly solid hand that you'd play in MOST situations.

You figure you will try and limp in. Now you've got 7 other players that have a chance to raise and chances are, someone will.

Drew does exactly that. He fires out a $20 preflop raise. The other players fold and the action is back to you. You've already called the $5 big blind so you call his bet.

The flop hits A,7,3 and you're first to act. You hit your ace but you check to see what Drew does. He fires out a $50 bet without any hesitation. Now you’re a bit scared.

You know he's got a strong hand and may have you "outkicked." You've already thrown in $25 so you call another $50.

Do you see where this story is going?

You got yourself into trouble by playing a "just OK" hand in the 1st position. You end up losing your entire stack to his AQ.

This is how the 1st position can be very dangerous. You must only play GOOD to GREAT hands when in this position!

Now let's say you're dealt pocket rockets (aces) while in this same position.

The action is on you 1st. What do you do?

You should simply call the big blind.

There are 7 other players that have a chance to raise and you know someone will in this rather loose game.

Drew throws out a $20 preflop raise that 3 other players call.

The action is back to you and you go over the top for $100 more.

You make the bet rather large because of the pot size. (That's an entirely different topic and discussion that we'll save for another time. Let's stick to this situation.)

Drew calls the raise and the other players fold. The flop hits K,10,8, and you get all your money back from your A,10 mistake.

This is how I play the 1st position. The only time I usually make a raise with a monster hand is if the table is rather tight.

You dont want 7 players limping in when you've got Aces. They will be ran down.

However, if your at a table that isn't gun-shy, let the other players begin the betting before you make your move.

Play this positioning correctly and you will benefit greatly throughout the game.

Smack Dog Poker Articles
Read our Poker Room Reviews