So you are sitting at a $3/$6 Hold'em table,
and the cards are dealt. You decide that
with your hand, it is worth $3 to see the
flop. You call. The next two players fold,
the following player raises. Now you decide
that it isn't really worth $6 to see the
flop, and you wish you had never placed
a bet in the first place.
That is difference table position makes.
Had you already known someone was going
to raise, you would've saved three dollars
that hand by simply folding. Knowing what
your opponents are going to do makes a
difference.
A full Hold'em table is broken into
three pieces. The first three players
are said to be in Early Position. They
must act before most of their opponents.
Because they are acting first, players
in early position should avoid playing
marginal hands. After all, there are up
to nine more hands at the table to contend
with. Instead, players in early position
should limit themselves to playing only
premium hands.
The next set of players at the table
are said to be in Middle Position. They
have seen some of their opponents act,
so they have an idea of what they are
up against. If no one has raised, players
in middle position do not need to limit
themselves to only the premium starting
hands. Another advantage of middle position
is that there are fewer players who have
not acted, and so the chances that someone
will raise you are lower.
The last set of players are said to
be in Late Position. They have the advantage
of having seen most of their opponents
already act. The very last player to act
has the most advantage that table position
can offer. They have seen everyone act,
and should they decide to call a bet there
is no chance of someone raising them.
Players in late position can play a wider
range of starting hands because they already
know how many opponents they will be facing.
The general guide is to play very tightly
in Early Position sticking to only the
best starting hands. In Middle Position,
stick to playing good starting hands,
but they need not be the very best. In
Late Position players can afford to play
much more loosely.
Of course there are different betting
strategies that can be used depending
on your table postion and the actions
of your opponents, but the first thing
to understand is that where you are seated
in relation to the dealer makes a difference.
You can improve your game right away by
simply paying attention to your table
position.
this article compliments of http://www.pokerprophet.com
