Poker Veteran of 50 Years: Position, Position, Position

“Good players don’t just play their cards. They play their position.”  —Phil Ivey

It has often been said that the three most important factors in real estate are location, location, location. 

In poker, those same sentiments ring true, only it’s all about position, position, position.  

Position in poker refers to your location at the table relative to the dealer button as well as the other players. Being on the button is the most advantageous position in poker because it is last to act. Position can also refer to your chip standing at the table or your overall status in a tournament.

“Position is everything in poker. It’s like having the last word in an argument." —Doyle Brunson

Considering that poker is a game of limited information, position enables you to gather more knowledge about your opponents’ actions and have more control over the betting strategy by applying pressure.  This can translate into more winning hands in the long run.

“Position allows you to see what everyone else does before you act. It’s like seeing the future.” —Tom Dwan:

Unfortunately, you are only in the prime position one time each round of play, so it is essential that you learn to navigate through any and all positions.

Position dictates your action as much as the hand you are dealt, your stack size, or even the betting action around you. It’s never only about position, but position is always a consideration. As crucial as position is, it is imperative that you learn to use it to your advantage, as even playing out of position can, at times, work in your favor.

“If you don’t understand position, you don’t understand poker.”—Daniel Negreanu.

Your betting action and calling range are significantly affected by what position you are in. It is essential always to know where you stand at the table, as every hand is played differently, depending on position. For example, playing aces from the worst position —under the gun — requires a much different strategy than playing them in the best position —on the button. 

Players in early positions recognize that they are vulnerable —being out of position— and will often disguise the strength of their hand to throw you off their scent and keep you guessing.

“Give me position and I’ll show you how to win with any two cards,” said champion Doyle Brunson.

Keep in mind that position play is most significant preflop and immediately after the flop. As the hand progresses, more information becomes available to all playing in the hand, making position less valuable and, in some cases, even a hindrance.

Say you wake up with a pair of kings in early position, make a 5x bet, and get called by two players, one on the button and the big blind. The flop comes 8-9-10 two hearts. The big blind checks and you put in a half-pot bet. The button raises a pot size bet. Even though you have an over pair to the board, you may, in fact, be in trouble as the positions have flipped, with the button taking control of the pot on a very dangerous flop.

One of the most exciting plays for the player who is last to act is the “squeeze.” Say there are three or four players in front of you who flat called an early bet, and you’re the last to act. Based on their actions, you can assume they are calling for the pot odds with weak hands or draws. This is an opportunity to make a pot-sized bet, blow them all away, and scoop a big pot. Using the element of surprise makes the “squeeze” the perfect position play. 

Betting in position or just playing strategically out of position are key components to managing the pot size and even controlling the pace of the play. Betting, raising, and even bluffing can adjust the position structure of the table, enabling you to take control, get to see a free card, or even allow you to take down a pot on the spot, just because of your position action.

Daniel Negreanu said it best—

“The key to poker is position. If you master position, you master the game.”