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Button, cutoff, and co: The positions at the poker table.

The position at the poker table is a crucial strategic concept, especially in Texas No Limit Hold'em. It plays a significant role in determining your gameplay and betting behavior. While raising top pairs like A-A, K-K, or Q-Q preflop is a common move from any position, playing low pairs can be more challenging. It becomes extremely important to consider your position at the table and whether your opponents have taken any actions before you.

We thoroughly examine the subject of positions. What exactly is a position? What types of positions exist? What are absolute and relative positions? How do I play from each respective position? And what benefits do they actually bring me?

What is a position? What positions exist at the poker table?

The term "position" refers to when a player is in turn during a betting round at the poker table. This depends on who is the dealer in the respective round, or where the button is currently located. As we know, the button shifts clockwise after each hand. The more opponents act before oneself, the more information one possesses. The table position indicates at what point one must make a decision.

One mnemonic that arises from this is that the earlier one is in the turn, the stronger their hand must be. Any subsequent player who sits behind increases the likelihood of one of the opponents holding a strong hand. It follows that being first in the turn gives a strategic advantage as it allows for more control and less uncertainty. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the strength of one's hand relative to their position in the turn order.

At a poker table with ten players, there are ten different positions available, which can be divided into four groups. A player can either be in an early, middle, or late position, or they can be sitting in the blinds. The position relative to the button is referred to as the absolute position. Here are all the absolute positions:

Late Positions: Cutoff (CO) and Button (BU)

The player holding the button, also known as the dealer, and the opponent seated to their right are referred to as the late positions. The card dealer is called the button, and the player on their immediate right, who is next to act, is known as the cutoff.

Positions in the middle: MP1, MP2, MP3.

The three spots adjacent to the button and cutoff are occupied by players in the middle positions, known as Middle Position 1 (MP1), Middle Position 2 (MP2), and Middle Position 3 (MP3).

Early positions 1, 2, and 3: Under the Gun 1, Under the Gun 2, Under the Gun 3.

Players sitting in middle position and acting immediately after the blinds are in an early position. These three positions are referred to as Under the Gun (UTG) 1, 2, and 3. Early position presents a unique challenge as players must make their moves without the advantage of knowing the actions of opponents seated in later positions. It requires careful consideration and strategic decision-making to navigate the game successfully.

Blind positions: Small Blind (SB) and Big Blind (BB)

The two participants who have compulsory bets, seated directly to the left of the button, are referred to as blinds. The individual to the left of the dealer is responsible for the smaller forced bet and is known as the small blind. The other player, who must contribute the higher wager, is called the big blind.

When there are fewer players at the poker table, the first to go are the early positions, followed by the middle and late positions. As the player count dwindles, the dynamics of the game shift significantly. With a smaller number of opponents, playing strategies have to be adjusted accordingly, taking into account the increased value of position and the potential for more aggressive play. It is crucial to adapt and capitalize on the advantages offered by a reduced player pool, maximizing the potential for success.

The relative positions

In the realm of poker strategy, the significance of relative position surpasses that of absolute position. It pertains to defining your position in relation to other active players who are still in the game. Within this context, three distinct relative positions exist, which include being In Position (IP), Out of Position (OOP), and finding oneself in a Sandwich situation.

When you have only one opponent left after the flop, you have two choices: playing in position or playing out of position. Playing in position means that you will act after your opponent, allowing you to react to their actions. On the other hand, playing out of position means that you will act first, giving your opponent the ability to respond to your moves.

The sequence of your position is determined by the betting order starting from the flop. If you have more than one opponent at the flop, it is referred to as a multiway pot. When you find yourself in between two players in the betting order, you are in the so-called sandwich position.

"In Position" versus "Out of Position"

The ultimate objective of any player should be to engage in as many hands as feasible when situated In Position, as this grants them the opportunity to partake in a greater number of hands. By being In Position, players possess an advantage in terms of information throughout all stages of the gaming round, enabling them to base their decisions on the moves executed by their opponents.

The best spot at the poker table is the button. In this position, you always have the advantage of acting last and deciding your course of action. The closer you are to the button, the more hands you can play. On the other hand, the small blind is the most unfavorable position at the poker table. Before the flop, the player in the small blind is second to last to act, but after the flop, they always have to make their decision first.

If you find yourself surrounded by multiple adversaries seated behind your position, there is a significant risk of being Out of Position after the flop is dealt. The Cutoff, the player right before the seat with the dealer button, also holds a highly advantageous spot at the table, as only the button has the opportunity to act after the flop. As a general rule, the closer you sit to the button, the higher the likelihood of playing Out of Position after the flop.

Having the position after the flop provides a significant advantage in terms of information. Your opponents must act before you, allowing you to gather valuable information based on their checks or bets. Conversely, your opponents are unaware of whether you are about to check or bet. This gives you complete control over your opponent, allowing you to, for example, simply check to see a free card or lead your opponents astray. By being in the advantageous position, you can manipulate the game to your advantage.

Simultaneously, the position at the table holds significance when it comes to hand selection, thereby encompassing two factors that should influence the choice of a starting hand:

• What is the probability that a player in a later position has a strong hand?
• What is the likelihood of being in position after the flop?

The Small Blind is a crucial exception, as it acts as the second-to-last player before the flop. The likelihood of a player holding a strong hand behind the SB is extremely low. Nevertheless, the Small Blind is always Out of Position (OOP) after the flop. Therefore, players in the Small Blind can play more and even riskier starting hands compared to an early position, but still significantly fewer hands than the player with the Button.

Position on fish and weak players

Ideally, you should aim to play against weaker players who are out of position. The closer you are seated to the left of these players, the more often you will have a favorable position after the flop. Conversely, the closer you are seated to the right of these players, the more frequently you will find yourself playing out of position. Therefore, it is advisable to try and position yourself on the left side of a fish and be as close to them as possible. If possible, the optimal scenario would be to sit directly to their left.

What is the significance of position in No Limit Hold'em?

1. If we both completely miss the flop, we will win the pot more often than our opponent in a heads-up situation.
2. It is easier to steal both preflop and postflop because we can wait for our opponent's every decision and evaluate our action accordingly depending on the situation.
3. The most crucial decision in No Limit Hold'em occurs on the river, as that is where the largest bets are placed in the pot. Making the right decision on the river is much easier when in position compared to being out of position, as opponents rarely check-raise on the river. Either they check, and we can be fairly confident that we are ahead with a good hand, or we can comfortably check behind with our marginal hands that have showdown value.
4. In position, we can better control the size of the pot through check-behinds on the turn, etc., compared to being out of position. This is where a lot of hidden money lies. A skilled player loses less in situations where they are behind with a good hand and maximizes profit in situations where they are the favorite. Both can be accomplished more easily with the advantage of position.
5. It is easier to play draws in position because we can either place aggressive bets or take a free card when our opponent checks.