How Positions Affect the Game in Texas Holdem
Many players of Texas Holdem, new and old alike, lose their opportunity to win a hand simply because they overlook their position at the table. Unknown to many, one's position at the table is very important and may even spell one's chance to win a hand. A successful Texas Holdem player knows that the strength of the hand depends on the position from the dealer button.
The betting order in Texas Holdem is fixed and does not change with each round of betting. Being in an early position at the table is a disadvantage because of lack of knowledge on how the other players after the turn will be acting. The pot can be raised or re-raised after the turn of those in the early position. Those in the early position at the table should have a stronger hand for a better chance to win a hand. Be inquisitive before calling the blind with a hand in an early position. If one knows that the pot will be raised, will this still be one's action? If a raise will not be called, then it may be wise not to play the hand.
Having enough knowledge is a poker player's ally to win a hand. One has a better chance of having access to the hands of the other players when one has more information, thus, those at the latter positions are at a better advantage. They witness how the other players in early positions have called and this influences their own decisions. If the pot has been raised and re-raised, one will get an idea of how strong the hands of the other opponents are and their chance to win a hand. If the cards at hand are not strong, the player can choose to fold.
In Texas Holdem, there are a lot of hands which are drawing hands. If playing against a big field, connectors and suited cards stand a good chance. The player however must act with caution when playing these hands by making sure there is a substantial amount of money in the pot which will give the player the correct odds. This occurs when there is substantial pot money to cover the times that the player will not make a hand relative to the odds of making the hand. By playing this particular hand in the early position, chances are the pot will be raised and the other players will be forced to fold resulting to a standoff between one or two players with strong hands yet the money in the pot is not enough to make a good profit after the flop.
Those in the late position at the table are at an advantage because they have more information at hand enabling them to gauge how to win a hand. If the hand is strong, one can call a raise when the other players bet or call a bet if the others have checked. One can also check to get a free card if it is a drawing hand. If there were raises or bets called before and the flop was of little help to the hand, one can decide to fold without losing too much. Meanwhile, those in the early position at the table do not have this advantage. When one places a bet, chances are a raise will be called. When the player has nothing and calls a check to get a free card, the next players may call a bet and the earlier player will have no other option but to fold. If the hand is strong, however, and the player calls a check, chances are the other players will also call a check and potential bets will be lost.
Texas Holdem is a game that is affected by a lot of variables that should be considered when making decisions during a game. A good strategy that worked for one hand may not work for another because no two hands are the same. A good understanding on how one's position at the table affects the gameplay will be important especially in making a decision.
