Understanding Position in Poker

Position is arguably the most important factor in online poker. Hand selection greatly differs depending on a player's position. New players typically make common errors in two areas; bankroll management and position. If you are early to act meaning you are in the first three seats to the left of the dealer, you are in early position. The seats are being numbered for this example from 1 to 9 starting with the seat to the left of the dealer. Seats 4, 5 and 6 are referred to as middle position. The final three seats [7, 8, and 9 (the dealer)] are in late position. Early position is the worst position and late position is the best. The dealer has the best position on the table.

Early Position

Early position is referring to the players sitting in the first three seats. The first seat is the small blind and the second seat is the big blind. The player sitting in the third seat is referred to as being under the gun. This player is first to act after the hand is dealt. Pre-flop the big blind has the best position because they are last to act. However, post-flop the dealer has the best position for the final three betting rounds. In early position, hand selection must be significantly tighter. The reasoning for this is that there are a lot of players to act behind you and the advantage is lost.

High pairs, high suited cards and high-unsuited cards are the only hands that should be played in early position. Pocket jacks through aces should be the only pocket pairs played in early position. If the table is very passive, calling the big blind or checking is obviously good for pocket nines or tens. High suited cards should consist of Ten/Jack and higher including non-connectors such as King/Jack, Ace/Queen, and Ace/Jack. Unsuited high hands should only contain Ace/King, King/Queen and Ace/Queen.

Middle Position

Middle position improves a player's advantage a little bit. However, players still need to be careful, especially in seats 4 or 5 because they are subject to the actions of the players sitting late. Hand selection opens up a little in middle position. In addition to the hands playable in early position, players can add high suited hands. These include King/Ten, Queen/Ten and Ace/Ten. Unsuited high hands open up to include Ace/Jack, King/Jack and Ace/Ten. Pocket 8's, 9's and 10's are now playable but be cautious of raises from the early players. This is especially true if these players have shown to be typically tight players. A raise in early position usually indicates a very strong hand or a very loose player.

Late Position

Late position is where every player wants to be on the table. The hand selection is the largest and these players have the biggest advantage. Be careful of the check-raise. Just because you may be the dealer and have the best position, you are not destined to win the pot. You still have to play the cards as well. In late position, players can also add mid-suited connector hands. These would be hands such as 6/7, 7/8, and 9/10. Small pairs from pocket deuces (2's) and up can be played. They can be played but this doesn't mean raises and re-raises should be called with these hands. Most people will play Ace/anything in late position if there has been no raise or the pot odds make it worth it.