Poker Tip: The Power of Position

You always hear about "the button" and how position is so important in poker...but why is that? A bet is a bet, right? What does it matter if it's made before or after your turn? Well, it's all about information. In case you don't know, being on the button means you're either dealing (which is the case in most home games) or you have the dealer button in front of you (in Las Vegas or in a tournament). It means you're the last to act before the blinds pre-flop. After the flop, you are the last to act. That means you're in control. Let's say you're playing in a 10-handed game at the Bellagio (or at Joe Blow's house on the northeast side, really doesn't matter). You're under the gun, meaning you're the player immediately to the left of the big blind and first to act. You hold a mediocre hand like A-8 offsuit. Blinds are $2-4. You're feeling saucy and enter a small raise to $10. Because you were under the gun, you now have to sweat through nine players to act before you know if your raise worked! Suppose four players call and then the player on the button raises. Now what? You're stuck. Chances are you're a slight favorite or coin flip to at least a few of these players (best case scenario), or you're completely dominated to a hand like A-A or A-K...even A-9 (worst case scenario). Getting into pots out of position with these types of hands is often what kills beginners. Even if you catch an ace on the flop, you could already be drawing dead to your kicker. Now let's flip it around. You're on the button in a 10-handed game. You're dealt A-8 offsuit. Blinds are $2-4. Two players limp in (meaning they just called the big blind). Everyone else folds around to you. Now this is a good chance to steal that money in the pot. Remember, being on the button is all about information. Because of your position, you already know that no one has shown any signs of strength. If you enter a healthy raise here, you put the pressure on those players to have a hand to be able to call. Sometimes you can pick a pot up that easy. Of course, you will get called every so often. So let's say one player does just that. An ace hits the flop. You now have top pair with a very mediocre kicker, but remember, you also have the power of position. If that player checks to you, you pounce on the opportunity, bet your hand and hope to take the pot right there. If you're playing in a tournament, having the button becomes even more of a strategic spot pre-flop. Late in tournaments, when the blinds are growing and growing, being on the button is a great spot to steal those blinds. It really doesn't even matter what you're holding. If it gets folded around to the button, you could have 7-2 offsuit (not recommended, mind you) and enter a nice raise. This now puts the blinds in a tough spot. They'll need a pretty decent hand to call you. Again, you are going to get caught every once in a while...that's when you pray to catch something on the flop. But stop and think for a minute just how key this is. If you're four hours into a daily tournament in Vegas and the blinds are at $400-$800 and you have $5000 in chips left, stealing the blinds on just one hand can increase your stack by 25%! Saying all that, there are times when being out of position is actually a benefit. For instance, if you hold 3-3 and catch a set on the flop. Being one of the first to act allows you the option of slowplaying...checking with hopes that the other players will hang themselves. So as a general rule, tighten up your pre-flop requirements when out of position and allow yourself to be a little looser as the button gets closer. If you take a stab at stealing the blinds and get caught, be prepared to take another stab after the flop. Don't immediately give up if one or two players call you. Use the power of position! Send news tips/story ideas to WOAI... Get local news delivered directly to your inbox...