A big part of any business’s success is ‘location, location, location’. Similarly, there is an adage in poker that goes ‘position, position, position’. What does that mean? Well, if you don’t take position into account when you’re playing Texas Holdem, you’re likely to end up playing hands you shouldn’t…and losing money that you never should have bet.

Around the poker table there are four positions. Generally considered to be the first three players after the blinds is the early position. Middle position is the next three positions after the early position. Late position is the last two positions before the blinds, and includes the button. (The blinds are mandatory bets posted by two players at the start of each hand, prior to the cards being dealt.)

Before the flop, the position you’re in should be a big determining factor as to whether or not you should play your hand. In an early position you have no information on your opponents’ hands and should only play premium hands. This way you won’t have to give up your chips if another player puts in a raise after you’ve already bet.

In middle position you should open up a little and play lower-valued starters, but don’t get carried away. You’ve seen some players bet in front of you so take their actions into account before making your own move. There are still a few players to follow you so don’t go betting the farm on a smallish hand.

In late position you’re sitting in the best seat at the table. Pre-flop you’ve seen almost all of the betting action, and once the flop hits you’ll get to see all of it. You have plenty of information in this seat and with only a few players to follow, you have a lot more hands open to being played.

In the blinds, you must remember that in every betting round that follows you will be in an early position. Starting from the blinds can be even more difficult because you’ve already committed some money to the pot. Just because you’ve already got some cash committed doesn’t mean you should call every pre-flop raise from the blinds.

Read the Texas Holdem Guide for more insights into playing great poker!