Your position at the table is simply your position
in relation to the theoretical dealer. The dealer is
well known as the best position since the player in that
position plays last on each betting round (except the preflop).
The advantage in playing last is simply the chance to see
how all the players at the table react before making a decision
to bet, call, or fold. It is always better to play last
in any betting scheme.
The person to the left
of the dealer is in the worst position on the table since
this is the player that has to act first and this player
is forced to put in half the maximum single bet before seeing
any cards (referred to as the small blind position). Nobody
likes to bet on a hand they have yet to see but this is
exactly what happens in this position.
The person to the left
of the small blind position is the big blind position. This
player is forced to go in for one bet (and in fact initiates
the betting without seeing their cards). The big blind position
is known as the second worst spot on the table to act from
and usually someone in this position that is betting has
something worth betting with (when there are lots of players
at the table).
The person to the left
of the big blind acts first before each player receives
their first two cards. This is referred to as "being
under the gun" in poker slang. The clockwise motion
of play allows those who act later (in late position) to
be at a significant advantage in the game. As a result,
those in late position can play weaker hands or "gambling
hands" with less fear of financial obligation or loss.
The blind positions and
the player under the gun (early positions) should be much
more selective with their hands, as they don't have the
privilege of watching other players betting/raising before
they must decide if they want to stay in themselves.
For example, lets say
you're under the gun (first to act). You have Queen-Jack
off-suit and have placed a bet. A player after you raises
and everyone but you folds – what should you do? Chances
are good that this player has a better hand than you, with
at least an ace or a king or a pocket pair. Unfortunately,
you've already bet, because you had no idea what the other
players at the table had in the pocket. A real gamble in
this case. The worst part about this scenario is that you
will always have to play before this person and in so doing
give that player a big advantage over you throughout this
hand. This is a typical situation where position is key
to acting or not acting on a questionable hand.
Conversely, being in
the dealers position for the above scenario not only gives
you the benefits of observing how the other players are
betting, but it also gives you the ability to adjust and
influence the size of the pot. After all other players have
bet, a raise by the player in the dealers position could
potentially double the size of the pot or could limit the
number of people who stay to see the next betting round.
Usually players who have committed to one bet are very likely
to commit to another bet, but this is the very situational
trap that many undisciplined players fall prey to.
Position on the table
is key to your style of play and your ability to be aggressive
or passive with respect to betting strategies. Beware of
the players who use their positional advantage with great
skill. These are players you should want to learn from.
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