Why Position in Texas Holdem Is So Important
When you’re playing Holdem there is a disc which helps you see who the dealer is for that hand and every hand the disc will move one spot to the left. This means that every player will have a different position in the hand each hand so you will need to use your position to your advantage. When you’re in early position you need to be a lot wearier about raising the pot whereas if you’re late to act you will have a better idea where you stand in the pot.
In early position you will be one of the first players to act in the hand which is a disadvantage because you don’t get to see how the other players act first. If you raise the pot in early position then you need to watch out for another player re-raising you because you won’t know where you stand in the pot, especially if it’s preflop. When you flat call marginal hands in early position preflop you also have to worry about your opponents raising the pot on you.
After the flop early position doesn’t become any better because you need to act before the other players. If you decide to check then you’re sending a sign of weakness to the other players in the hand which might make one of them bluff you out of the pot. If you bet the pot in early position after the flop, turn or river you run the risk of your opponent re-raising you. You really need to make sure that you have a good hand when you’re betting in early position because you never know what your opponents might do in late position.
In late position you will have an advantage over the other players on the table and this is when you will want to make your moves on pots. When you’re in late position you can see how the other players act before you so if they all check it to you then you can generally steal the pot unless someone is slow playing you. You will also be able to see how much it will cost you to chase draws and you won’t need to worry about someone re-raising you if you’re in the late position.
When you hit a monster hand in late position after the flop, turn or river you will also be able to extract more money typically because opponents in front of you might bet at the pot. Typically if you have a good hand then you should slow play the late position and just flat call the flop and turn, but once you get to the river you should make sure you re-raise your opponents if you think you’ve won the pot.
Bluffing will work a lot better when you’re in late position as well typically so try and make sure if you’re going to bluff that you’re not one of the first players to act in the hand. The earlier position you make a bluff the more opponents that need to fold in order for you to win, so you have better odds bluffing in late position.