Don’t Be a Poker Sucker: Play in Position

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Arved Klöhn Pokerlistings Author
  • Fact Checked by: PokerListings
  • Last updated on: January 21, 2025

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Ever felt like you’re navigating a maze without a map when you’re out of position in poker? Trust me, we’ve all been there. Playing in position is like having a backstage pass to the poker game—you get to see all the action unfold before making your move. Let’s dive into why mastering your position can be the game-changer you’ve been searching for.

What Does “Playing in Position” Mean in Poker?

Imagine playing poker where you’re always one step ahead, knowing what your opponents are up to before you make your decision. That’s what “playing in position” is all about. When you’re in position, you’re the last to act in a betting round, giving you a strategic advantage. You’re able to observe how others play their hands, which provides invaluable information to guide your own moves.

Picture This:

You’re sitting at the table, and you’re the last to act after the flop. You see your opponents hesitate, bet, or fold before it’s your turn. This insight allows you to make more informed decisions—whether to bet, call, or fold—based on their actions. On the flip side, when you’re out of position, it’s like trying to play a game of chess without knowing your opponent’s next move. You have to act blindly, which can lead to costly mistakes.

The Early Days: Learning to Play Tight

When you’re just starting out, the advice is often to play tight—only entering pots with strong hands. This strategy simplifies your decisions post-flop because you’re less likely to be out of position. Playing tight from early positions minimizes the number of times you’re forced to act without the benefit of seeing how others play their hands.

Think of It Like This:
Playing out of position is like hiking up a steep mountain with a heavy backpack. It’s challenging and exhausting, making every step a struggle. By keeping your early position play tight, you’re lightening the load, making the climb much more manageable.

Poker is a Simpler Game in Position

When you’re in position, poker feels like a much simpler game. Imagine sitting to the left of a notoriously aggressive player—the “Jesus Seat.” From here, you have the upper hand, able to dictate the flow of the game. You’re not just reacting to the table; you’re setting the pace.

Personal Story

I remember my first time truly understanding the power of position. I was at a cash game table, holding a decent hand, and noticed that one player was always aggressive. By playing in position, I was able to counter his moves effectively, turning what could have been a losing situation into a profitable one. It was like finally seeing the hidden patterns in a puzzle I’d been struggling with.

Let’s Break It Down: Why Position Matters

More Information at Your Fingertips

When you’re last to act, you get to see what everyone else does before you make your move. This extra information can be the difference between a winning and losing hand.

Example:

You’re on the button with A K . The player under the gun raises, and you call. The flop comes down 10 J 2 —a dry board. If checked to you, you know that your opponents might not have hit anything substantial, giving you a great opportunity to make a continuation bet and take down the pot without a showdown.

Controlling the Pot Size

Being in position allows you to control how large or small the pot gets. You can decide to keep it small when you’re unsure about your hand or build it up when you’re confident.

Metaphor:

Think of the pot like a pot of soup. When you’re in control, you can decide whether to keep it simmering gently or turn up the heat to bring it to a boil.

More Bluffing Opportunities

Having the last word gives you the perfect setup for bluffs. You can represent a strong hand based on how your opponents have acted before you, making your bluffs more credible and effective.

Rhetorical Question:

Have you ever seen someone get caught in a bluff because they couldn’t see your hand coming? That’s the magic of playing in position.

In Position vs. Out of Position

Out of Position

You’re playing a $1/$2 No-Limit game online with $200 effective stacks. You’re dealt 7 7 under the gun and raise to $8. A player on the button calls, and the flop comes 10 J 2 . You make a continuation bet of $13, and the button calls. The turn is the 3 . Now, what do you do? Out of position, you’re left guessing—does your opponent have a jack, a ten, a straight draw, or just overcards? It’s like trying to find your way through a foggy forest without a map.

In Position

Now, let’s flip the script. You’re still in the $1/$2 game with $200 effective stacks, but this time you’re on the button with Q 9 . An early position player raises to $8, and you call. The flop comes 10 J 2 . The early position player bets $13. Here, being in position allows you to see their reaction before you decide. You can choose to call, raise, or even fold based on the information you gather, making your decision-making process much smoother and informed.

Practical Tips

Play More Hands in Position

The key takeaway? Play as many hands as you can when you’re in position. This doesn’t mean being reckless, but rather leveraging the advantages that come with being the last to act.

Tighten Up Early Position Play

When you’re in early positions, be more selective with your hands. This minimizes the number of times you find yourself out of position post-flop, making your decisions easier and more profitable.

Use Position to Extract Value

When you’re in position, you can extract more value from your strong hands. Whether it’s through value betting or extracting bluffs, position gives you the upper hand in dictating the flow of the game.

Final Words

Understanding and leveraging your position at the poker table can transform your game. It’s not just about the cards you hold, but about how and when you play them. By playing more hands in position, controlling the pot size, and using your position to gather information and extract value, you’ll find yourself climbing the ranks from a novice to a seasoned player.

So next time you sit down at the table, remember the power of position. Embrace it, and watch as it becomes your secret weapon in the quest for poker greatness. Your bankroll—and your confidence—will thank you.

Playing Position in Poker FAQs

What is playing position in poker?

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. Because after the first round of betting the whole table acts after you for the rest of the hand.

Regardless of your skill level, or the hand, playing in position always gives you more information than any of your opponents. In the world of Texas Hold’em, hand and player information is the most valuable commodity there is.

How does poker position work?

Having position in poker means you’re last to act. So if you’re the button/dealer you’re in position, or if you’re the cut-off (acting right before the button) you’re also in late position.

Poker position works well for players since you can gain more information from opponents when acting last. It also gives them a chance for free cards. For example, they can play drawing hands, like suited connectors in position. Because they can check behind a player in position. Playing this hand Under the Gun (first to act) means you may have to face a raise from an opponent if you don’t hit.

You can control the betting action and pot size more when in position. And you can play more hands so it induces more action. And if you end up being weak or don’t hit anything, there are more bluffing opportunities – because your opponent puts you on a wider range of combinations. Inversely, you can narrow down your opponent’s range more when they’re in position, because most of the time they’re playing tight with premium hands.

How to play poker in position?

To maximize while playing in position, open with a wider range of hands – around 40-50% of starting hands. Including drawing hands like suited connectors (56 spades example). In general, you should raise more often than call. And use the information you gain from other players when in play.

What are the poker positions?

You can split poker playing positions at the table into three:

Early positions: The small and big blind players and the player sitting at the Big Blind’s left – Under the Gun (UTG) player . Plus the one next to that player – the UTG+1.
Middle positions: The absolute middle position (MP) and the next player – the Hijack (HJ).
Late positions: The Button (BTN / dealer) and the player on their right – the Cutoff (CO).

What is HJ in poker positions?

The hijack player sits between the cutoff (button’s right-hand) and middle position players. It’s considered a middle/late position where you can play more hands than in early position. And thus can be a more profitable position.

What is late position in poker?

The late positions in poker are the button (BTN) player – who is dealer of that round. And the player on their right – the Cutoff (CO). These positions are the last to act. Making them the most powerful positions because they have the most information on players. This position lets you control the game more. And you can play a wider range of hands – perhaps even over 50% of starting hands.

Poker: Why is position important?

Position will always ensure you gain a lot of player information by the time you have to act. Playing position also gives you a lot of “bluff equity” – meaning simple, cheap and effective bluffing opportunities. Plus, having position in a poker hand lets you control the final pot size and make more accurate value bets.

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