Texas Holdem Positions

There are numerous Texas Holdem strategies out there, but they all agree on one basic point: recognizing your position is essential to playing Texas Holdem. Your position is poker lingo for your turn to act.  

When playing Texas Holdem, your turn to take action (i.e. bet, raise, call, check or fold) is determined by your position in relation to the dealer button.  In this respect, playing Texas Holdem is like waging a battle – sometimes you’re in a position to attack, and sometimes your position requires taking a defensive stance.

Position is Key When You Play Texas Holdem Poker 

Take a close look at our Texas Holdem poker rules and you’ll see why position is so important for all Texas Holdem strategies. 

During all betting rounds, Holdem players act in the same predetermined order, regardless of the cards they’re holding.  Other poker games like 7-Card Stud and 5-Card Stud require the player with the best showing hand to act first during most betting rounds. This means that your position may change as the hand progresses.  

When you play Holdem poker your turn to act remains the same throughout the entire hand. Thus, Texas Holdem strategies dictate that the tactics used in Holdem are different than those used in other poker games. But why is position so important?

Knowledge is Power When You Play Texas Holdem Poker 

Knowledge is power.  This phrase is true whether you’re playing Texas Holdem or any other form of poker.  One way to gather information about your opponents’ hands is simply to allow them to make the first move.  Unlike chess or tic-tac-toe, acting last is a huge advantage in poker because it means you can choose whether to attack (raise) or cut your losses and retreat (fold).

Acting after your opponents have already committed chips into the pot, for example, allows you to test their hand with a raise. This will give you a sense of how serious their commitment really is, a serious benefit when it comes to Texas Holdem strategies.   

Acting last also gives you the option to fold in case you find yourself caught in a battle too fierce for the cards you’re holding.  

When playing Texas Holdem, the simple equation ‘knowledge is power’ easily translates to the poker equivalent: ‘position is power’.  As far as positional Texas Holdem strategies are concerned, later is always better.

Positional Terminology in Texas Holdem Strategies 

Before we get into the different Texas Holdem strategies for taking advantage of your position, here are some key phrases that players use when they refer to positional tactics:

The Dealer, On the Button – This refers to the player seated directly behind the dealer button.  When you play Holdem poker, the dealer is last to act during all betting rounds but the first (where the blinds are last to act).

The Cutoff – This is the player seated directly to the dealer’s right.  If no one has placed any bets during the first betting round, this player is the last with the ability to ‘cut off’ the dealer and prevent him from stealing the blinds.

Under the Gun– The player seated directly to the left of the dealer.  When you play Holdem poker, this player is first to act during all betting rounds except for the first round.

Early Position– In a classic 10-player table, the first three or four players seated to the left of the dealer are considered to be in ‘early position’ during most betting rounds.

Middle Position– The next three players seated to the left.

Late Position – The last three players to act, which are: the dealer, and the two players seated to his or her right.

Out of Position– Playing from a disadvantageous position, usually early and middle positions.

Playing Texas Holdem Position by the book

When you’re out of position, i.e. acting before most of your opponents, you’re giving them a chance to test your strength and will power.  This is especially true when you play Texas Holdem poker.  If you make a weak play out of position, such as simply calling the blinds from under the gun, you’re exposing yourself to a possible attack.

Many Texas Holdem strategies advise players in late positions to raise a weak call regardless of the cards they’re holding. This is an attempt to get the player who called to fold after displaying such weakness.  For this reason you should only play strong hands when you’re out of position, and play them aggressively.

The mirror image of the above strategy also holds true: If you sense weakness from a player seated in an early position, the fact that you’re playing Texas Holdem gives you an advantage that will last throughout all subsequent betting rounds.  You’re in a position to pounce, and all guides to Texas Holdem strategies recommend you take advantage regardless of the cards you have.

Advanced Texas Holdem Strategies 

Our advanced guide offers three different pre-flop Texas Holdem strategies. These strategies vary depending on where you are seated in relation to the three possible player positions mentioned above.  

Playing Texas Holdem, and doing it well, involves a separate pre-flop strategy for early position, middle position and late position. Remember: Position is power – use it wisely.