The Importance of Seat Position (Poker)

Here i would like to explain the importance of seat position in a game of holdem. You sit down at the table with your stack. The blinds are $20-$40 and you are first to act. You hold an Ah 10s which is pretty good and you decide to call the big blind. The next four players behind you fold, looking good so far. Then you see a re-raise followed by a subsequent all in. You fold your A 10 as you are sure that you have probably been out kicked.

This is a classic example of table position and how acting first is bad. Had you already known someone was going to raise, you would've saved your 20 dollars as an A 10 is made to look very average after a raise and subsequent re-raise. Knowing what your opponents are going to do makes a difference and should influence how you bet.

We could divide up a Holdem table into three pieces to be analytical. An important concept that we will touch on is table position. The first three players are said to be in "Early Position". They must act before most of their opponents and should avoid playing marginal poker hands as they are at a disadvantage. After all, there are up to nine more hands at the table to contend with. Instead, players in early position should limit themselves to playing only premium hands.

The next set of players at the table are said to be in "middle position". They have seen some of their opponents act, so they have an idea of what they are up against. If no one has raised, players in middle position do not need to limit themselves to only the premium poker starting hands. Another advantage of middle position is that there are fewer players who have not acted, and so the chances that someone will raise you are much lower than early position.

The last set of players are said to be in "late position". They have the advantage of having seen most of their opponents already act. The very last player to act has the most advantage that table position can offer. They have seen everyone act, and should they decide to call a bet there is no chance of someone raising them. Players in late position can play a much more expansive game and usually play far more hands. The reason it is good to do so is that you get a chance to see what your opponents bet before you have to decide.

Lets now take a reverse look at the scenario above. Lets assume that you are now last to act and again hold an Ah 10s. Now being last to act you see 3 players check, and the rest fold. Your turn to bet. Now, it is possibly a good idea to put in a small raise as the betting suggests that you likely have the best hand. You now see that with the same hand, the power of table position in Holdem is immense. So as a rule, be more selective in early position and play only premium hands. In middle position you can be a little looser and should base your decisions on what the players before you do in addition to the cards that you hold. In Late position you should use this to your advantage. See what the whole table does and then make your decision.

Information is power in a game of poker. The more information you have on your opponents of a situation, the stronger the position you are in. Watching everyone bet before you is information and a clear advantage.