How Not to Suck at Poker: Play in Position

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Arved Klöhn Pokerlistings Author
  • Fact Checked by: PokerListings
  • Last updated on: January 15, 2025

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If you’re unfamiliar with the term, position simply means you are the last to act in the hand. Meaning you have the dealer button, or the players acting after you have folded. The worst places, position-wise, are typically the blinds, as after the first round of betting the whole table acts after you for the rest of the hand.

Regardless of your skill level, the situation, or the hand you’re playing, being in position will always give you more information in the hand than any of your opponents. In the world of Texas Hold’em, information is the most valuable commodity there is.

Why Play in Position?

  1. When it’s your turn to act, you have more information than your opponents.
  2. Position gives you “bluff equity,” meaning simple, cheap and effective bluffing opportunities.
  3. Acting last lets you make more accurate value bets.
  4. Having last action gives you control over the final pot size.

To give you an idea of exactly how important position is:

Tom “durrrr” Dwan and Patrik Antoniusplayed a $1.5m, 50,000-hand heads-up challenge online with the winner getting the money from the game plus added money in a side bet.

These two players are arguably two of the best online poker players in the world. And if you look at the stats taken from all the hands they played you’ll see an almost shocking theme.

If you compare money won or lost out of position to money won or lost in position, each player’s results are a mirror image. Both are substantially down when out of position and both are showing a substantial profit when in position.

Even though they’re playing the same game, against the same player, simply having position is the difference between winning and losing millions.

For this reason, if one player was to give the other player position in every hand they play, there would be no contest; the player with position would dominate.

If you want to make money in poker you need to play as many of your big pots in position as possible. Every large pot you play out of position is a potential disaster. As Dan Skolovy says “Playing out of position is like walking through a dark cave with no flashlight. You never know what might lurk behind that next corner.”

Step-By-Step Guide to Playing in Position

Watch this strategy video and continue with the rest of the How Not to Suck at Poker series below to learn everything you need to know to stop sucking and start winning, fast.

Playing Out of Position = Playing in the Dark

When you’re out of position you’re often playing in the dark. And it loses you money. Here’s an extreme hypothetical example to help give you a clear idea of why position is so important:

You’re playing $1/$2 No-Limit and sitting with $300. From under the gun you’re dealt A  A . You raise to $12.

A guy in middle position (10  10 ) calls and so does the player to his left (A  K ). You go to the flop three-handed.

Flop: 10  J  Q

You bet out $25. The first guy raises to $60 and the second guy calls. With such a draw-heavy board you choose to re-raise to $150.

The first guy moves all in and the second guy snap calls. You fold and lose $162 on the hand.

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Again, But Now On the Button

Now let’s take the same scenario and put you on the button instead of under the gun:

You’re dealt A  A  on the button. A guy in middle position (10  10 ) raises to $12 and the player to his left (A K ) calls. You re-raise to $40; both players call.

Flop: 10 J Q

The first player bets $100 and the second player instantly calls.You fold and lose $40.

Both times you lose money and there was really nothing you could have done in either scenario to avoid that. The difference is how much money you lose.

In the scenario above we got lucky that the player with the set chose to bet out. If he had checked, chances are we would have lost a total of around $120 instead of just $40.

Even if you don’t re-raise in the first example and you fold after you get raised and called, you still lose $60 — $20 more than you lost when you had position.

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Position = Information

The increased information we have allows us to make a more informed decision before we have to act. In a scenario like the one above we can almost always assume that our aces are drawing nearly dead.

To be clear, you shouldn’t fold AA from early position; this just shows the value of position and the disadvantage you have when you’re playing without it.

When trying to decide what hands you should play or fold, such as K10 offsuit, position should be the most important factor in your decision.

A simple rule of thumb:

  • When you’re in early position only play premium hands.

A premium hand will most often lead to simple, easy choices while marginal hands often put you in tricky spots. The last thing you want to do is put yourself in a difficult situation because you’re playing out of position.

Example:

Imagine you hold A Q on the cutoff with three limpers before you. Raising here allows you to isolate one or two of them while enjoying positional advantage post-flop. If you pair your ace or queen on the board, you can more accurately gauge the strength of your opponents by their actions before making your move.

Mastering Position Play

Even at the highest levels, the power of position shapes every hand you play. Learning how to maximize each spot from late position will steadily boost your expected value (EV). It also helps you stay out of tough spots in early and middle positions. Most professional players continuously refine their position-based approach by reviewing hand histories and analyzing outcomes with software tools.

Several concepts stand out for players seeking to elevate their position game: developing a flexible pre-flop range, finding spots to apply pressure on draw-heavy boards, and leveraging advanced bet-sizing to take down pots uncontested. Position allows you to orchestrate moves like check-raises, thin value bets, and well-timed bluffs with more precision since you have the advantage of reacting to opponents’ actions first.

Integrating Advanced Theory into Position Play

Building a well-rounded position strategy involves a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical insights. Many players consult solver-based solutions, using calculations that highlight profitable ranges in common spots. This approach can help you see precisely which hands function best on various board textures when in position.

For instance, with a hand like J 10 on a flop of 7 9 2 , a solver might recommend a balanced mix of semi-bluffing and pot-control lines depending on the opponent’s likely ranges. From the button or cutoff, you have the ability to adopt different plays based on the action before you, maximizing your equity by utilizing the information gleaned from your opponents’ moves.

In addition, you can adjust your bet sizes more accurately when you’re in position. If your opponents show weakness by checking, a well-calibrated bet can either take down the pot immediately or set up a bigger move on the next street. By analyzing actual hand histories and combining them with modern solver data, you’ll develop the instincts needed to exploit opponents from late position effectively.

FAQ

What is position in poker?

Position in poker describes the order in which players act during a hand. Being “in position” typically means you are the last to act on each betting round, giving you an informational advantage over your opponents.

Why is playing in position so profitable?

Playing in position allows you to collect more information before making a decision. This advantage leads to better bluffing opportunities, more precise value bets, and greater control over pot size, all of which can directly boost your win rate.

How should I adjust my starting hand ranges based on position?

Your strongest hands can be played from any position, but you should gradually widen your range as you move closer to the button. Early positions demand more caution since you will be acting first throughout the hand.

Is it ever worth calling a 3-bet out of position?

It depends on your hand strength and your opponent’s tendencies. While hands like A K or Q Q can still be profitable even out of position, weaker hands often become unplayable and lose value quickly without the advantage of acting last.

How does position affect bluffing frequency?

Having position allows you to bluff more effectively because you see how your opponents react before you decide to fire a bet or raise. You can also size your bets more precisely, timing them to fold out marginal hands in your opponents’ ranges.

Are there scenarios where I can exploit my position without strong holdings?

Yes, if opponents check or show weakness, you can often take the pot away with a well-timed bet. Acting last gives you a chance to represent strong hands confidently, even when holding a marginal holding.

Can professional players overcome positional disadvantages with pure skill?

While skilled players may mitigate some disadvantages, nobody is immune to the power of position. Over the long run, even top professionals acknowledge that acting last is a crucial factor in maintaining an edge.

More on How Not to Suck at Poker:

  1. How Not to Suck at Poker: Play Fewer Hands
  2. How Not to Suck at Poker: Count Your Outs
  3. How Not to Suck at Poker: Learn Basic Odds
  4. How Not to Suck at Poker: Pay Attention
  5. How Not to Suck at Poker: Have a Proper Bankroll
  6. How Not to Suck at Poker: Stop Bluffing
  7. How Not to Suck at Poker: Stop Talking So Much
  8. How Not to Suck at Poker: Track Your Results
  9. How Not to Suck at Poker: Talk to Better Players
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