May 29, 2006
Poker Positions
Today we will focus on “POSITION”.
As in racing- poker favours POSITION!
When we speak of position people often only think of late position. Late Position -(LP) being advantageous due to the fact that one in late position gets much more information on who has done what and to whom well before it is their turn to act.
LP=Prime Betting Position
In tournament play (sometimes Ca$h games too)- Chip Position- (CP) is important because of the intimidation factor it has to a weaker opponnent. (Or an observant one.)
With many chips once can FORCE OPPONNENTS to MAKE TOUGH (all in/ AI) DECISIONS. This is one of your primary goal during your poker career-btw. The more (tough) decision that your opponnent(s) are forced to make- the higher probability they will make a higher number of Unwise (costly) decisions.
With few chips (short-stacked) one can force others to be threatened of your willingness to move AI when the right odds present themselves- thus forcing wise players to be much more cautious (timid) around you and your short stack.
U must create “timidness” at YOUR table.
Which bings us to: Image Position (IP)-
“He who dominates your table-
is destined to take all the chips.”
Tournament Position-(TP) is important in that a wise player will always calculate where they are at within a particular stage in a tournament. KNOW HOW AND WHEN TO “CA$H IN and CA$H out”.
I wish to stress the importance of some not so addressed areas of poker: Early Position and Middle Position.
Early Position-(EP) is the most advantageous (especially in NL poker) to DRIVE OUT opponnents.Raising is easier to do by far than calling.
One can go All-In-Pre-Flop (AIPF) with a pair of dueces in early position- but, it would be a death-wish to call an AI with a pair of deuces.
Players normally play PH only from EP- therefore a raise by U (if u play wisely*) - will be interpreted as a PH Raise.
*Wisely= Playing very few hands. PH w/ SA
EP=Prime Drive Out Position
Middle Position-(MP) is an underused AI position when sandwiched between a beaten player to your left, and a tight rock or bluffer to your left.
MP=Prime “Killer Poker” Position
Combine these Poker Distinctions- and you’ll be on the inside track to earning $100k + in the Ultimate Sport.
‘Til next time- “Ratch”