Tag Archives: position
Poker Strategies: Playing Position II
Just a short follow-up to our earlier discussion of position, and how it applies to poker.
Playing position applies to every form of poker, whether it’s No-Limit/Limit, Holdem, Omaha, Stud, or Razz. Once you understand the strengths of the various starting hands you need to factor in the strength/weakness of your position at the table. Hands that are almost an automatic raise/re-raise in late position, may be only worth a call in mid position, if they are playable at all, and mandatory folds early.
In general, if you are opening the pot (first to act) you will need to have a stronger hand the earlier your position in relation to the button. If you are later in position, but still first to act, you can lower your starting hand requirements and increase your aggression. Take our example of pocket 7’s from Part I. You may want to consider folding if first to act in early position due to the unknown potential of the hands still to act. If action is folded around to you and you are in late position or on the button, a raise is definitely in order. There are fewer people who could compete with you for the pot, making it more likely that you will have the best hand going in if you are called. Same hand, different position, better odds.
Conversely, you can also use your opponent’s position at the table to your advantage. His actions in different positions can help you determine what hands he could be holding. This will, in turn, aid you in making your decision later.
If he is raising in early position, you need to give him credit for a decent hand and judge your hand’s strength accordingly. Similarly, if he is calling or re-raising your bet/raise, you need to give him credit for having a hand. Players usually require a stronger hand to call or re-raise somebody else’s action. You don’t want to start calling with trash hands or re-raising with ATC (any two cards) just because you have position. Having someone already in the pot changes the dynamics of the game and adds another variable for you to consider.
Practice and experience will make taking position into account easier as you go along. After all, position is only one of the many variables you will need to take into consideration while you are at the table.
Poker Strategies: "Limit" Your Losses (Page 1 of 2)
Playing Limit Texas Hold’em is quite a bit different than the No Limit games you see on TV and requires a much different strategy in order to be successful.
The first thing you need to learn to accept, especially in low-limit games, is to leave your bag of poker “tricks” off the table. Bluffs are nearly useless in Limit Hold’Em. The reason being that a player will almost always have the required “pot odds” to call with even mediocre holdings.
Remember, in Limit Hold’Em you are only allowed to bet predetermined amounts based on the current blinds. Given that restriction, your opponents will often have odds of 6:1 or higher to call down to the river. If they have hit the board remotely well, they’ll call, figuring they’re getting the right price to take the chance. This is especially true of low-limit ring/cash games and low buy-in Limit Tournaments.
That being said, Limit poker is probably the best for a new, or novice, player to start. There are advantages; More play for your poker dollar. Limit Hold’em gives the beginning player a little protection from the consequences of making a wrong play. Making a decision doesn’t have to cost you your entire stack if you’re wrong. If you get involved in a pot you really shouldn’t have, you aren’t very likely to be pot-committed. You have the chance to realize your mistake and get away from a bad hand. The main drawback to No Limit Hold’em is the same thing that gives it it’s massive appeal. The dramatic swings of fortune make for a great deal of excitement. Unfortunately for the novice, this means that they could make just one mistake and be “excited” right to the rail. Playing within your comfort zone is also much easier in Limit. If you know how much you are willing to risk, it’s easy to find a Limit game that will give you plenty of time to play, and a chance to score a decent win, without being overwhelmed by the action.
OK. You’ve decided on a comfortable limit, built up your bankroll, and you’re ready to get started. What’s the best way to approach a Limit game or Tournament?
Firstly, Tight is Right. This applies even more to Limit games than No Limit. You should only come into a pot with premium hands. Playing “cute” hands like 67suited are more likely to get you into trouble than they are to pay off big. The only exception is when you are in late position and there are several players already in the pot.
Second, position, position, position. Pay attention to your spot in the rotation of table action as well as that of your opponents. Hands that are playable in late position, or on the button, may very well be mandatory folds early.
Third, limps are for wimps. NEVER open a pot for a call. Always raise. If you take the advice of only playing premium starting hands in Limit, you will understand the need to show strength to limit the number of players in the hand to lessen the chances of getting out-drawn. It’s ok to call from late position (occasionally) when there are others already in the pot in order to camouflage the strength of your hand.