During a game of online poker, where you’re positioned around the table can have a significant influence on the outcome of your game. In some cases it is even more important than being dealt a strong hand.

Positioning around a table is split into three categories: early, middle and late. A player’s positioning is measured by how close or far they are from the button. Read on as we discuss poker tournament tips and why good table positioning is crucial to a successful game.

The advantages of good positioning

When participating in online poker tournaments, games can often go on for a while, meaning patience and knowing when to play aggressively are key. A good position around the table can be a great indicator when deciding to check, bet, raise or fold.

For example, if you’re playing at the end of each round it gives you greater pot control. Why? If your opponents bet or raise, you can call and close the round. Whereas, if you were in the middle and decided to raise on a bluff, and the players after you re-raised, you might decide to back out, losing the money you put in. Also, if you’re unsure about your hand and your opponent’s check, you can do the same and see what the next round holds.

On top of this, it presents more bluffing opportunities as you can get a lot of information about your opponents’ style of play. Discovering their playing personalities is a very important aspect of knowing what move to make. If they check throughout the round it usually means they don’t have a strong card so it may be a good idea to raise on the river or turn and steal the pot. The importance of a good poker position should not be underestimated.

Lastly, being in a good position allows a player to control the size and flow of the pot more easily. This means you’re in a stronger position to dictate the round. Being successful in poker is more than the luck of being dealt strong cards; a lot of skill is involved. 

The way to become a skillful online poker player is to ensure you’re taking in the information about where your opponents are positioned around the table when placing a bet and how your opponents usually play. For example, if there is a player who is constantly folding, it suggests that they will only join in the round when they’re dealt strong hands. So, if they raise in a round and you have weak cards, folding is a wise decision.

What are the different poker positions?

When you play poker online, you’ll find that the table is often full, seating up to 10 players. However, this number will drop as the game progresses. As previously mentioned, your positioning around a table is either early, middle or late.

Early positioning

To most professional poker players, this is the weakest position you can be in. Early positioning around a table includes the four seats to the left of the button (or dealer.) The first two seats are known as the small blind and big blind. It is unfavored because you’re the first player to act during a round, making it harder to bluff or play aggressively – players can get a gist of your playing style as the game goes on.

To get the most out of an early position it is essential to be patient and not be too aggressive. By checking or calling, you can see how other players react to the flop, turn or river.

Middle positioning

Middle positioning refers to the next three seats to the left of the players sitting in the early positioning. At times, players can be in a bit of “no man’s land” as their bets are often countered. However, it can become a strength when playing aggressively. For example, if the first three players check and you decide to raise, it gives the perception of having a strong hand and may lead to the table folding and taking the winnings.

Late positioning

It is a common belief in the poker community that late positioning is the strongest place to be seated. These are the two or three seats to the right of the dealer.

This is where you have the most information and can play accordingly. It is also the strongest position to play aggressively through moves such as raising, bluffing or semi-bluffing.

Where should I sit?

As a beginner, playing live poker online comes with a lot of strategies and hands to recognize and remember. Strong positioning around a table is an important advantage to have if, for instance, you’re learning how to deal with a Texas Hold’em poker game.

Try to avoid an early seat as it requires you to make one of the first decisions. Also, try to have the best players to your left. This is because experienced players often fold more hands when they’re forced to play out of position, whereas they play most of their hands when in a strong position.

Once you get the hang of it, you can experiment with multi-tabling, which is unique to online play.

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