The term “position” in Texas Hold’em simply refers
to your position relative to the dealer button. Position is generally
split up into four categories--- the blinds, early position, middle
position, and late position. The blinds are the first two players
to the left of the dealer button. Early position is considered to
be the first 3 players to the left of the blinds. Middle position
is the first three players to the left of early position. Late position
is the last two players--- sometimes referred to as “the cut-off”
position and “the button”.
Position is so important because how you play a hand, or IF you
play a hand, is greatly determined by what the other players are
doing. Naturally, being in late position is an advantage, because
you get to see what all the other players are doing before you have
to make your decision.
Players in early position need to be more selective about their
starting hands (see our Starting Hand section), since they have
no idea if they are going to have to call a raise from behind them.
For example, say you are UTG with a QJo and call. The player behind
you raises, and everybody else folds. After already committing money
to the pot, you almost have to call the raise, although you can
be fairly certain that you currently have the worst hand. To further
compound your mistake, in all the following betting rounds you will
be "out-of-position", and must act before the other player.
If no one has raised the pot and you are in late position, you
can more safely limp-in with weaker hands and see a flop cheaply,
since you will only have to call a pre-flop raise if one of the
blinds raises. In the betting rounds to follow, you also have more
opportunity to successfully semi-bluff and buy a free card (See
our Bluffing and the Semi-Bluff section).
|
bonus code review
