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Table Positioning
- Are things starting to fall in to place a little - you've read about the rules of Texas hold'em, how sit-and-go tournaments work, outline strategy and starting hand selection. Some very important and fundamental stuff. Another aspect of importance (and one which a lot of players overlook and/or have little knowledge of) is where you are sat at the table for each hand.
Your position dictates your "turn" to act - to bet, raise or fold. Remember that the dealer button passes around the table and the first player to act in each hand is the player immediately to the left of the "big blind?" When it's your turn to be the "virtual dealer" you are known as being "on the button." This can be very powerful.
Imagine the table split in to three sections to signify position. Early, middle and late.
Early position
When you are in an early table position you have to act first or before the vast majority of players. This can be very difficult as at this point you have no idea what cards others could be holding. So, if you decide to enter a hand from early table position be sure it is a hand you really want to play. Think what you would do if a player acting after you raises the pot. Is your hand good enough to match that raise? For example you're in early position, you look down at your starting cards and you have JT. Not bad, but not great. You call. Another player throws in a big raise. Action comes around to you again - what could the raiser have, is your JT up to the job. Is it worth calling that big raise to see the flop. Play the strongest starting hands from early position and be prepared to call a raise if you do.
Middle position
When you are in a middle table position still only play very strong starting hands hands (say group 1, group 2) because there are still a good number of players to follow you who may raise. If a player from early position has already raised, get out now with anything other than a group 1 hand. Middle position is still tough to play from so select those starting hands carefully.
Late position
When you are sat in late position (on the button or next to the button) you have the advantage of seeing what everybody else has done and know that only the small and big blinds have to act after you and they have already been forced to put chips in the pot. Being in late position is an advantage. Say nobody had raised the pot so when play gets around to you - a few have folded, the remainder have just called. Nobody has shown that they may have a strong hand by raising the pot. If you have a reasonable hand here, throwing out a small raise at this point even with a marginal starting hand could take down the pot there and then as you are showing "strength." It also puts pressure on the players in the blinds as they now have to decide whether or not to put even more chips in to the pot over and above their "forced" bets.
- Small blind
When you are the small blind, you've already had to put chips in to the pot. And you'll have to put more in to stay in the hand. If the blinds are 25/50 you've put 25 in and would have to put another 25 in to stay alive assuming the pot has not been raised when the action gets to you. If you've got nothing or the price of calling is too much, simply fold. Don't fall in the the trap of thinking "it's only another X-amount of chips to call" because those extra chips soon eat a big hole in your stack. Be smart, think smart.
Big blind
When you are the big blind, you've been forced to put the full blind in already regardless of the cards you're dealt. If the pot has not been raised when play comes to your turn you can "check" and see the flop for no extra chips. That's about the only "advantage" to being the big blind. If you can check and then flop a "monster" (great hand) it's not so doesn't always happen though.
- Other considerations
As a tournament progresses and players are eliminated, table positioning becomes less of a consideration though remains crucial. When few players are left, being first to act can actually be an advantage as the likelihood of anyone having a great starting hand is reduced. A strong pre-flop bet from early position can instantly win a pot as you are saying "I've got a great hand." This can cause your opponents to fold immediately as their thoughts are on the money. Picking the right moment is the tricky bit...!
When you are the big or small blind, prepare to be "attacked" by other players who want to "steal" the chips you've already put in by raising in to. You can "defend" your blinds by raising them back if you think they are trying it on. Important particularly in the late stages of a tournament when the blinds are high.
In general - use table positioning to your advantage and be aware of it. Play only the best cards from early position. Look for opportunities to raise from late position if you think other players are weak and/or to attack the blinds.
Master table positioning and you can take down more pots.
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