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The Importance of Seat Position

This month, I’m going to look at the importance of ‘Position’ and how where you sit during a game can seriously effect the outcome.

The importance of position can not be stressed enough. Even the same cards turning out in the same order will throw up vastly different results depending on where you’re sitting. Hands that are playable and in winning combinations in late positions will often be unplayable in earlier positions.
So how does it work? Well, if you are first, second or third to play after the dealer you are said to be in ‘early’ position (also known as ‘up front’). If you are the dealer (also known as ‘playing the button’) or are one or two seats to the right of the dealer you are in ‘late’ position. All players in-between (and normally facing the dealer across the table) are in ‘middle’ position.
If you are in ‘early’ position, the type of hands you’re forced to play are restricted to high cards as, of course, you have no way of knowing what other later players are holding.
While playing in ‘middle’ position, you’ll have callers waiting behind you and some who have already played. The chance of a raise is slightly reduced and there are already several players in the pot so you will get better odds playing somewhat weaker hands than normal.
When you are in ‘late’ position you have the advantage of having seen almost every play so far and will at least know how other players feel about their hands by the way they have checked, bet, raised or re-raised.
If you are ‘playing the button’ (i.e. the dealer) you are last to act in each betting round of that hand which is a major advantage. As with ‘late’ positions, you can play a much weaker hand than normal and can optimize the use of bluffs, particularly as the game progresses.
So next time you’re playing take a look at where you’re sitting in relation to the dealer and think twice about your hand. It could make all the difference!
Ok class, that’s a wrap for this month's session. For Lesson 7, be sure to read next month's edition of Pacific Poker's Newsletter and remember to always keep abreast of Games Theory. Exchange new information with players, and read Poker related literature - it helps!
Good Luck and have fun

P.S. I copied this info from Mike Herea one of the Poker Guru's from Pacific, not to bring them any praise but it was already stated and it was very useful this morning. Im BB and get dealt KK, game just started. $600 freezeout, $3.30 buy-in at 08:00 an starting chips 1000. Flop comes 6c/8d/Jh rainbow-I lead off with 400chips, 2-5position fold, 6th call, 7/8th fold, SB calls. Turn As, i bet 300chips, an 6th folds now SB calls, im thinking to my self dam im in trouble- hoping he will fold. River comes 2s, I say bump it an push all-in, he calls- an shows 22-an wins with 222AJ .

P.S. Just thought I would share this with you all, maybe it'll be helpfull.


SHERMSTICK

Nice stuff Sherm. To be honest these are the basic area's that any player hoping to win win consistently should know, especially when the blinds go up.

And that play...you didnt say what bet you made preflop. The guy calling with 22 probably wanted to go back to bed I reckon, and got very lucky when his 2 outer hit

THX C147:

The tourney was really just starting an I bet 400 pre-flop off of my KK, because I was told you should bet between 4x & 10x the blinds which then where 20/40. I think that I played it right, next time since it's freezeout im going all-in.

P.S. Man I was so mad at him, but i said hey that's poker (even if it's bad).


SHERMSTICK