Table & Positions
Understand the Button, blinds, early position, late position and why your seat changes your strategy.
Introduction
Position describes where you sit relative to the dealer button. It is one of the most important strategic concepts in poker because it determines when you act.
The dealer button
The dealer button moves clockwise after each hand. It determines the order of play and identifies the strongest positional seat at the table.
The blinds
The two players immediately left of the Button post forced bets before cards are dealt.
Small Blind: the first forced bet.
Big Blind: the second and usually larger forced bet.
The blinds create money in the pot before the hand begins.
Early position
Players in early position act before most opponents. Because they have less information, they generally need stronger starting hands.
Late position
The Cutoff and Button act later and therefore have more information about opponents' actions. This allows them to play a wider range of hands.
Key Takeaways
Remember these concepts.
Acting later gives you more information.
Early position generally requires stronger hands.
The Button is the strongest standard position.
Position should influence almost every poker decision.
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Hand Rankings
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Preflop Fundamentals