How to Play Based on Position

Position is a very important poker concept that most new poker players do not understand, but it is key to become a successful poker player. Position simply means where you are seated in relation to the dealer button. Late position players are to the right of the dealer button and have the last chance to act. Early position players are to the left of the dealer button and have to act first.

The advantage of being in late position is that you have the opportunity to see what everyone else has done before you and then make your decision. If you are in early position then you do not yet know what the people behind you are going to do. It is clearly better to be in late position at the poker table, and therefore you can play more starting hands than if you were in early position. A marginal starting hand should not be played in early position, but can be played in late position with no raises.

Bluffing in Late Position

If you have late position and everyone else has checked indicating they do not have a strong hand, then you can bluff or semi-bluff in an attempt to win the pot by making everyone else fold. If you make a bet and then someone check-raises be very careful since that is usually a sign of a monster hand. Semi-bluffing in late position can be a very profitable poker strategy.

Loose to the Right, Tight to the Left
In poker you want to have the loose players to your right, so they are acting before you. They will usually call almost every hand, thus giving you better pot odds on marginal hands. Having the tight players to your right gives you the opportunity to bluff or semi-bluff in order to make them fold. A tight player will not call a bet with a marginal hand, but a loose player will.

Understanding position at the poker table is one of the keys to becoming a successful poker player.

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