Positions in a Poker Game - Poker Positions Basic

Positions in a poker game are something that players can use to their advantage in a poker game; as a beginner player you need to learn the positions and how to use them in the best way. Knowing how to use your position in the right way can be that little factor that makes the game go your way; and the different between having to lose your money and taking home the pot on the table. Optimize your game and start winning at the tables; poker is a game of skill that needs many hours of practice and very few players can feed on the natural talent that they have been given for a longer time. Statistics say that players earn more money in certain positions, the late positions, but knowing how to play from all positions can help you to play against the odds or save you some money.
 

Basic Poker Positions

To begin with the basic poker positions in Texas Hold’em are lined up here below; as you will understand from the explanation the play goes clock vice:

• TB (yellow) is shorthand for The Button, this is the player seated on the dealer button.

• EP (red) is shorthand for Early Position and this player is seated on the left side of the dealer button.

• LP (green) is shorthand for Late Position and this player is seated to the right of the dealer button.

• MP (blue) is shorthand for Middle Position and this is all the players seated between EP and LP

      • CO (green on the right side of button) is shorthand for the Cut Off and this is the position just before the TB.
 

 

Basic Poker Game Positions and How to Play

We have lined up the basic poker game positions, location at the table, and now it is time to move on to how they are played. But I order for you to understand why positions should be played in a certain way we will begin by explaining the advantages of positions. EP is the first player position to act; this means that you will have to be the one who makes a decision before everybody else on the round. You will not be able to make decision based on other player’s actions, the amount they bet, if they check or other signs that could give them away. With this said you will probably have no problems understanding the text below.  

EP: This seat is not the best in the game; you are the first player to act. Being the first to act means that you will have less information than the following players and in many situations you will simply have to rely only on the cards in your hand. Play only the starting hands that you are truly confident on from this position.  

MP: This position is favorable to the EP but still LP will have much more information before it is time for him to play his hand. From this position you will have a little more information to go on and you do not have too many players acting after you at the table. If the EP player folds, and it is your turn to act first in the round, it will put you in a non-favorable position. Think of this when it is time to play your hand.  

LP: This is one of the most favorable positions in the round; you will be one of the last players to act on the round. You can use all the information during the round to decide on your starting hand, and if you see an opportunity you can take it. But as always playing tight is the most profitable way to play.

CO:This is the second best position in a poker round; if the TB folds you are the last to act in the game round. This CO and TB are the best positions for stealing blinds, there are very few players to act after you and the chance of getting called or raised is smaller.

TB: This position is the best in the round; no matter what happens you are the last to act (not before the flop). From this position you should take as much use of the information at hand, use you information advantage and play as many hands as good reasoning allows.