Holdem Hands: Pre-Flop Play in Late Position

Texas Holdem poker hands and real estate have at least three things in common: location, location, and location.

At Texas Holdem tables, late position is the most coveted among players. In late position, your Texas Holdem poker hands drastically increase in value.  As explained in our introduction to playing Texas Holdem positions, the later you act, the better.

The reason is simple: players in late position at Texas Holdem tables gain valuable information about their opponents’ hands, while no information is gained about theirs.

The best location for all Texas Holdem poker hands 

Those seated ‘on the button’ at Texas Holdem tables, i.e. in the dealer position and one seat to the right of the button, are in late position.  

During the first betting round, also known as ‘pre-flop’, only the blinds will act after you.  During all consequent betting rounds, however, the player on the button will be last to act.  

This gives you great incentive to be aggressive.  This is also an opportunity to play a wider range of Texas Holdem poker hands pre-flop.

No limit Texas Hold em poker hands – late position 

Acting from late position means you already know how many players have entered the pot.  With the exception of the blinds - because you can only guess whether or not they will call, raise or fold - you will already know if the pot is short-handed, multiway, or has a chance to become a family pot.

What does that mean?

Short-handed – only a few players have entered the pot
Multi-way – many players have entered the pot
Family Pot – every player at the table is still actively in the hand

This valuable information widens the range of hands you play and the way you play them. 

When playing from early position or middle position, all you have is an educated guess as to how many players will enter the pot, and at what price. Playing from late position eliminates that risk, and also puts you in a great position for the next betting rounds.  

Below are useful guidelines on how to play your Texas Holdem poker hands from last position.

No limit Texas Hold em poker hands – Short-handed 

If only a few players have entered the pot before you, acting from late position gives you an opportunity to be aggressive.  In no limit Texas Hold em poker, your raise can be as big as you like.  You can therefore force players to fold with a big raise, providing their pot odds dictate a fold.  

Unless you’ve come to the conclusion that the blinds are loose players, playing aggressively from late position pre-flop might get the blinds to fold as well.

If no one has entered the pot, you should almost always raise with the following hands:

AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AKs, TT, AQs, AJs, KQs, AK, 99, JTs, QJs, KJs, ATs, AQ, T9s, KQ, 88, QTs, 98s, J9s, AJ, KTs, 77, 87s, Q9s, T8s, KJ, QJ, JT, 76s, 97s, Axs, 65s, 66, AT, 55, 86s, KT, QT, 54s K9s, J8s, 75s

If the blinds strike you as super-tight you can even raise with these hands:

44, J9, 64s, T9, 53s, 33, 98, 43s, 22, Kxs, T7s, Q8s

When you’re in late position, it almost always makes sense to raise any hand you decide to play, even if a few players have called before you.  You might be able to steal the blinds or build up a pot for the next rounds, where you can enjoy absolute positional advantage.  

It is a reasonable strategy to raise with any Texas Holdem poker hands you would play from early position.

No limit Texas Hold em poker hands – Multi-way Pot 

In a multi-way hand, the size of the pot becomes a factor.  

In no limit Texas Hold em poker, an aggressive raise is more effective against fewer opponents.  Once many players are committed to the pot, it may become hard to shake them off.  

This is why in a multi-way situation you should only raise with the following hands:

AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AKs, TT, AQs, AJs, KQs, AK, 99, JTs, QJs, KJs, ATs, AQ, T9s, 88, QTs, 98s, J9s, KTs

You can add suited connectors to the list, since these hands play well in multi-pot situations.

No limit Texas Hold em poker hands – Family Pot 

If everyone has entered the pot before you, acting from last position is still an advantage, though not as great.  Be less aggressive for this reason. Unlike early and middle position, you can cut your losses by folding weak cards, thus escaping the hand unharmed.

You should play the same hands you would in a multi-way situation, especially the suited connectors, but be less aggressive with them.  Unless the blinds are notorious raisers, you can call many hands since the pot odds will make it worth your while.  

You should also limp into the pot with all the Texas Holdem poker hands we mentioned in short-handed play.