An Overview of Poker Positions: A Comprehensive Guide for New Players
For those new to poker, understanding position can be somewhat perplexing, yet it's a fundamental aspect of the game.
It's essential to familiarize yourself with poker positions and learn how to maneuver through them effectively. poker hand rankings –to succeed.
Don't worry! Our concise summary is designed to help you enhance your strategy significantly.
Let’s break it down.
Poker Seat Positions
Typically, a poker table can fit nine players, leading to nine distinct positional roles. However, there are instances where only eight positions are available.
When playing cash games online, six-player tables are quite common. The number of seats can differ based on the format.
We’ll begin by discussing the nine-seat configurations to ensure you’re ready for any scenario.
In its simplest terms, a player's position in poker indicates their location in relation to the dealer button—essentially, where they are sitting at the table.
(Keep in mind: The dealer button moves clockwise with each hand, allowing all players the opportunity to experience every position.)
Let's delve into the names and interpretations of each position in poker:
● BUTTON – the player with the white ‘Dealer’ button in front of them holds this position.
● SMALL BLIND – this player occupies the seat immediately left of the button.
● BIG BLIND – this individual sits to the left of the Small Blind.
● UNDER-THE-GUN – this player is to the left of the Big Blind. The intimidating name comes from being the first one to act preflop, which creates considerable pressure. poker board !
● UNDER-THE-GUN + 1 – the next player over to the left of the Under-the-Gun.
● MIDDLE POSITION – this seat is located further left from the previous players.
● LOJACK – this player is to the left of the Middle Position.
● HIJACK – this individual is seated two seats right of the button or directly to its left.
● CUT-OFF – this position is to the left of the button or one seat right of it.
The following list ranks the poker positions from the least favorable to the most advantageous.
● Small Blind
● Big Blind
● Under-the-gun
● Under-the-gun + 1
● Middle Position
● Lojack
● Hijack
● Cut-off
● Button
Do you notice the trend? The hierarchy from bad to good reflects a clear order!
The need to make quicker decisions correlates with a worse positional advantage (more details on this topic to follow).
Poker Positions – Groups
We generally categorize poker positions into groups for easier understanding.
Early Position (EP)
Players located in early positions sit directly to the left of the dealer button and are among the first to take action after receiving their hole cards.
Positions categorized as early include SMALL BLIND, BIG BLIND, UNDER-THE-GUN, and UNDER-THE-GUN + 1.
Middle Position (MP)
Middle-position players are those found between the early and late positions.
This includes the MIDDLE POSITION and LOJACK.
Late Position (LP)
Players seated in late positions are situated to the right of the button, including the button itself.
Positions labeled late comprise HIJACK, CUT-OFF, and BUTTON.
NOTE: If your table has more or fewer than nine players, alterations to the Middle Position will need to be made. You can adjust by adding or removing seats in this category.
NOTE: When participating in six-max games, whether online or in-person, the seating arrangements are SMALL BLIND, BIG BLIND, UNDER-THE-GUN, HIJACK, CUT-OFF, and BUTTON.
Understanding your current position on the table is crucial to knowing your poker seat roles.
You might also refer to the terms “early position,” “middle position,” or “late position,” and seasoned players will readily understand what you mean. poker lingo .
It's quite common to hear experienced players kick off their stories like this:
“I raised Ace-King while in early position…”
“In late position, I typically only play small pocket pairs…”
Why Is Poker Position Important?
Your location at the table might seem insignificant, but it plays a critical role.
Having a late position brings substantial advantages.
As referenced in my book A Girl’s Guide to Poker Research in online poker has demonstrated that the last player to act emerges victorious nearly 50% more often than the person who acts first!
Observing the decisions of others before you provides a valuable edge, allowing for more strategic choices.
Why is this?
Poker is a game of information.
When someone acts before you, they are giving away many details about the strength of their hand. They might bet big, letting you know they have excellent cards. Or they might not bet at all, signalling weakness.
In fact, position is so vital that professional players often adjust the cards they choose to play based on their seating.
Examine the variations in the frequencies of hands you should raise when you're the first to act.
Your seat position determines your poker combo “raise first in” (RFI) range.
Explaining Poker Positions - RFI Ranges
For a detailed breakdown of which cards to raise from different positions, refer to the charts provided in this guide. This resource will assist you in optimizing your hand play!
Many newcomers to poker initially struggle with the positional concept, often underestimating the need to adapt their card choices based on their table seat. 888Poker article here Insights from years past can radically transform your approach to the game.
Poker Positions Conclusion
RFI charts that clarify which hands to play from every position are essential for successful poker.
But the RFI charts from 888poker Notably, Annette Obrestad, who made history as the youngest person to win a World Series of Poker bracelet, accomplished an online tournament victory without even peeking at her cards. She triumphed over 179 opponents while playing ‘blind,’ sealing her screen with tape to avoid seeing her hands.
When asked about her reasoning (and methodology) behind this, she remarked:
Still not convinced?
“[To] highlight how critical it is to leverage position and attentively observe the other players at the table.”
By observing her competitors' actions, she gleaned all the necessary information to secure her win.
Amanda, who authored 'A Girl's Guide to Poker,' focuses on making the game approachable and welcoming for all. In 2021, she reached the final table of the World Series of Poker, where she and her father achieved third place in the WSOP tag team event.
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