|
|
Advantages of Position in Texas Hold'em Poker
If you've watched a lot of poker on television, you've probably noticed that in most no-limit Texas Hold'em hands, after the flop, it often turns into a one-on-one battle. One player raises, someone calls, and then it's just these two players left in the pot.
If you've ever observed top online poker players in major weekly tournaments (like Sunday Majors), you'll find the same scenario. This may differ from many home games and lower-stakes live games, but typically, by the time the community cards are dealt, there are only two players remaining in the pot.
In a one-on-one situation, it's clear that one player has position after the flop, allowing them to act last on every street, while the other player lacks position and must act first. If you haven't been paying attention, you might think that players have position half the time and lack it the other half, but that's not the case.
The truth is that most skilled players have position for most of the hands they play. This is because when they decide on their starting hands, skilled players are more likely to fold when out of position and get more involved in the pot when they have position. They do this because having position after the flop provides them with a significant advantage.
Poker Positions:
In no-limit Texas Hold'em, the positions at the table are typically referred to as early position (EP), middle position (MP), and late position (LP), determined by the positions of the button and the blinds. "Early position (EP)" usually includes players who are required to pay the small blind (SB) and big blind (BB) and also those sitting to the left of the big blind, often referred to as "under the gun (UTG)." In nine or ten-player tables, considering that other positions are relatively farther back, the seat next to UTG (UTG+1) is also typically considered an early position. Note that while the small blind and big blind act last before the flop, they are also considered to be in early position because they are the first to act on every post-flop street.
"Middle position (MP)" typically includes players two or three seats to the left of early position.
"Late position (LP)" includes the button (the last position), the cutoff (the position just to the right of the button), and the hijack (the position just to the right of the cutoff). In short-handed games, like six-handed tables, the hijack is often considered part of middle position.
As mentioned earlier, the best no-limit Texas Hold'em players often play most of their hands from late position, fewer from middle position, and very few from early position. They win the most money when they have late position, and this is not a coincidence. Even the best Texas Hold'em players tend to struggle when they are in early position.
Here are five reasons why having position is more advantageous in no-limit Texas Hold'em:
1. More Free Cards:
Sometimes you're playing a drawing hand and don't want to spend money to see the next card after the flop. When you have position on your opponent, if they check, and you're on a draw, you can see a free card by checking back and then check again to see the next community card. For example, if you decide to play a flush draw with 8c7c on a flop of Qc-9d-2c and your opponent checks first, you can bet, but you can also check back and see if you can get a free card to complete your flush. However, if you were to act first, you couldn't be sure your opponent wouldn't bet when you check, forcing you to spend money to stay in the pot.
2. Controlling the Pot:
Being the last to act on every street after the flop often allows you to control the size of the pot better. If you want to play a small pot and your opponent checks, you can check back and keep the pot small. If your opponent bets, you can just call to end the action. If you want to play a bigger pot, when it's your turn to act, you can bet or raise. When you lack position, you can't check and ensure that your opponent checks as well, allowing you to see the next card for free. If you bet, you also can't guarantee that your opponent won't fold or just call, keeping the pot small.
3. More Bluffing Opportunities:
Having position on your opponent is valuable because it often compensates for the weakness of your actual hand. In other words, your actual hand strength may be weak, but the ability to act last allows you to exert more influence when pretending to have a stronger hand. When your opponent checks in a position without position, it may indicate a weak hand, giving you more opportunities to bluff. For example, if you're on the button, raise, and the big blind calls, and the flop is Ac-Kd-6h, and your opponent checks, if they don't have an Ace or a King (or a 6), they might fold, so your actual hand strength doesn't matter much. Your hand could be Ad10d, Qc6c, or 7d2c; it doesn't matter. What can win you the hand is your position, not your cards.
4. Calculating Pot Odds:
Suppose you hold Kc10c in a four-player pot, and the flop comes Qd-Jd-5c, and you are the second to act. The pot already has 1500 chips, and the first player bets 500. You have an open-ended straight draw and want to call to see the turn. If you were the last to act, you could accurately calculate your immediate pot odds (you are trying to win 2000, need to call 500, so the pot odds are 4:1). However, with players behind you yet to act, you can't make this calculation. You don't know if others will just call (giving you better pot odds) or if someone will raise, forcing you to pay more to stay in the pot (making your pot odds worse). But if you have position and are the last to act, you'll know exactly what your pot odds are.
5. Understanding Opponent's Actions:
This is the most significant advantage of having position (honestly, this includes all the previous advantages). In other words, being able to understand how your opponent will act on streets after the known community cards can help you make decisions. You should pay more attention to this point: although you know that your opponent is constantly trying to deceive you, checking often means that they are not too enthusiastic about their hand, while betting shows interest. When you have position, many strong players consider their opponent's actions as the primary consideration before deciding how to play each street.
Conclusion:
The button rotates every hand, ensuring that everyone at the table has an equal opportunity to sit in every position. This should make you realize that positions in poker are crucial. If they weren't, there would be no need for such a balanced allocation of positions.
Playing without position can sometimes have advantages. When you lack position, you can employ strategies like check-raising after the flop, which can be very powerful. Additionally, being the first to act can sometimes help you prevent others from taking action, especially in multi-way pots, as an early position bet or raise may force others to fold.
However
, the advantage of having position is much greater. That's why the arrangement of positions at the table is so important. Ideally, you'd prefer not to have very strong and tough opponents sitting to your left (the ones with position on you). It's better to have them on your right, so you have position on them most of the time.
Position is one of the most critical factors influencing no-limit Texas Hold'em strategy. Having position on your opponent not only reduces your risks but also increases your opportunities for returns. Play more hands when you have position and fewer hands when you don't. This way, you're doing yourself a big favor. |
|
Post time 8-10-2023 05:24:42