Table Position

When positioned on the button, it is the opinion of many players that this is the best position at the table because you get to see what everyone else does before you have to act.

To be a great player you must understand that there is good positioning and bad positioning. You also need to understand how to play proper starting hands but that is a discussion for another day. :)

The dealer position, on the button, is valuable due to the fact that you have the opportunity to see how many players are still in on the hand and how strongly they feel about their hand.

Early betting positions are always subject to being raised by other players after you so you can take advantage of being on the button, when you have a good hand of course.

You can also have an advantage if you’re immediately before the button and the person on the button folds. A huge advantage if they fold before the flop. In essence you’re on the button!

Quick Tip

Any time you are on the button with multiple callers AND you have a good starting hand, then you can usually increase the minimum bet with a slight guarantee that everyone will call. This is a wonderful way to increase the winning pot size.

When you are in positions like the small blind and big blind, the potential of your hand drops significantly because, in these positions, you end up betting or calling with hands that are much weaker than you normally would have played.

Also, players who act after you are in better positions to outplay you. You need to play tight in the early position. Playing borderline hands will lose you money in the long run.

Don’t be scared to see a free flop, or a flop for minimal cost but be willing to dump ‘em if you ain’t got ‘em, aka stop chasing!

Many Texas Holdem Poker tournaments have been won by those who truly understand how to make the most out of the "blind" positions. Also understand, you don't have to be on the button or in good position to win. You can win anywhere on a Texas Holdem Poker table but it helps to know where the advantages lie.

Consider that you play a blind position 2-1 over the dealer position during a tournament. The "blinds" are what you would call an "early" position. You have no feedback from the other players as to what type of hand you think they have, and how much they are willing to wager on their hands. Unless you start out with strong hole cards, you need to be very conservative and check your hand.

If you do not have good starting cards, simply do not raise, do not call, do not fish, and do not take the chance, end of story.

Often I see those in the big or small blind position take a gamble based upon the idea that they already have half of the ante in the pot, so why not gamble and call the other half.

Why not?

Because it is still truly a gamble and many times foolish. Especially when the blind stakes are high. Those who can resist this temptation are those who end up saving a good bit of chips for when they actually have a hand and need to use them.