Posts Tagged ‘game position’
Before I started studying Texas Hold'em and learning how to play properly I thought all I had to do was learn the starting hands and what to do after the flop. I knew absolutely nothing about one of the most vital aspects of the game, position. Position ranks second only to starting cards in deciding whether or not to play your hand. Understanding position is an important concept if you want to be a winning player.
Your position is determined by where you are sitting in relation to the dealer's button. Unlike games like stud, where the betting order changes with each betting round, the order is fixed in Texas Hold'em. Before the flop the person to the left of the big blind bets first. After the flop the first active player to the left of the dealer button acts first. If you are in early position you will remain there for all betting rounds.
If you play a weak or marginal hand in early position before the flop, you are at risk of getting raised by those acting after you. There is also a possibility of multiple raises. If you decide to fold, you have cost yourself a bet without ever seeing any other cards. Before you make a bet in early position you have to ask yourself if the hand is strong enough to call a raise from a player in a later position. If you would not call a raise with your starting hand you should throw it away. Some hands are drawing hands that play better with many opponents calling the pot. If you have to act first, you have no idea how many players will call or fold.
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Tags: blind bets, dealer button, game position, games, online poker