Position is critical in all games, but most critical for any drawing game like 2-7, 5 card draw, or Badugi. The reason is, aside from betting considerations, that you get to see how many cards they are drawing. And only in a drawing game like this will that possibly determine what you'll do as far as your hand. For instance, you have 2357J on the button, 3 people have called, plus the BB checks. You have only 20 outs (4,6,8,9,10) to improve your hand. If you see eveyone drawing 2 cards or more, you might decide to stand pat. After the draw, no one will bet unless they've hit a better hand than you. Then you can raise, they will fold. But if you see 2 or 3 people drawing 1 card, you might decide to trade in your J and gamble on what might be a huge hand with your other low cards, and you can bet with confidence.
odds-wise, the difference between drawing 1 card and 2 are huge. Double the chance they'll hit a high card or pair up.
And reading your opponents will hinge on your ability to see betting patterns (especially pre-draw) in relation to many cards they draw, as well as what they might stand pat with.
I've not played for
real money, just the
freerolls at
poker stars (damn, just missed one). The minimum at ring games are $.25/.50. Don't have the
bankroll roll there. But I do like the game.
BTW, as only_bridge has mentioned (and it doesn't happen often), you'll get dealt a 34567 or 45678. 34567, you don't get rid of the 7 hoping for an 86 low. You get rid of the 6. This way you'll have the 2 for 4 more outs. If an 8 comes, you'll have 87 for a low, just a tiny smidgeon worse than 86.
