What Is Out of Position in Poker? A Guide to Better Strategy
Poker table positioning can make a massive difference in how you play your hand and how much value you get. In our poker guide, we briefly discussed the differences between early and late positioning, noting how it affects the quality of the hands you play and how you bluff or steal. In this guide, we’ll look at the moves you should make when out of position.
What is Out of Position in Poker?
Positions in Texas Hold’em are played clockwise around the table. As the dealer button moves after every hand, this order constantly adjusts, and everyone gets an equal chance to play from specific positions.
Being in late position is known as playing “in position”. You can see what others do before you act, which means you can base your actions on what has gone before. If you are in early position, you have to act before everyone else.
Why Position Matters
To understand why being out of position can be a disadvantage, suppose you are dealt a pair of 10s on a table of nine players.
In late position, you can fold if there are 3-bets and 4-bets ahead of you, which means there’s a high chance that someone has a higher pair. If the bets are small, you can opt for a call or raise and take your chances, hoping those players are holding A-Q or A-K and no picture cards land on the flop. If you sense weakness, you can bet big to steal the pot.
In early position, you’re faced with the knowledge that a bet could trigger further action, and as there is a good chance one of those players has a better hand, that’s not good news. You could also face a big bluff bet, and while you suspect it’s a bluff, it’s too risky to call them on it and face a showdown against a pair of kings or aces.
Position is also essential when nearing the button and trying to steal blinds. In late position, you can watch as the action gets around to you, judge the situation, and then bet big to take it down. You could still bet in an early position, but someone will likely raise you and try to bully you out of the pot. You could be called with a huge hand if you bet bigger or go all-in.
Poker Position Names
The button seat is considered to be the best position in poker. The player in this position gets to act last, which means they act after everyone else and can see what everyone does before they play. But full poker tables have room for nine players, and the position of each one greatly impacts their role in the hand and their chances of winning.
See below for a list of poker table positions ranked from the best to the worst:
- Dealer Button: The player with the dealer chip/button in front of them.
- Cut-off: The player seated to the right of the dealer.
- Hijack: Next to the cut-off and two places to the dealer’s right.
- Lojack: The lojack is the right of the hijack and acts before them.
- Middle Position: Next to the lojack.
- Under-the-Gun +1: An early position that is generally considered to be unfavorable.
- Under-the-Gun: After the flop, this position is the first to act, from where the name comes.
- Big Blind: Two seats to the left of the dealer.
- Small Blind: The small blind is directly to the dealer’s left.
Out of Position Poker Tips
If you want to improve your game, you need to learn how to play positions at poker. In-position play is largely self-explanatory. You have the advantage and can use it to get value when you have good hands and to occasionally 3-bet and 4-bet when you sense an opportunity to steal. It’s a little different when you are out of position, though. So, keep the following tips in mind for playing this tough position optimally:
Keep Your Opponents Guessing
Often, one of the best moves when playing poker is doing the opposite of your opponent’s expectations. This is also true when you are playing out of position.
Ideally, you would want to play all your strong hands in position, but the optimal strategy isn’t about waiting for the most optimal moments before you act. Sometimes, you need to force those moments. Not only does it mean you can play more hands and create more opportunities, but it also means you can make it harder for opponents to read you.
They might expect you to play tight out of position and give up hands easily, which you should do often. But now and then, you need to keep them guessing by playing aggressively.
Don’t Be Aggressive All of the Time
While a little aggression is recommended when playing out of position, you should always refrain from playing like this. Your opponents have the positional advantage, and if you keep betting and raising with weak hands, it’s a matter of time before you are found out, and they take you for everything you’ve got.
Adapt Your Strategy
Just because you play certain hands in position doesn’t mean you need to play them out of position. Typically, top players will work to a much smaller range when out of position, as there is a higher chance that one of the players acting after them will have a better hand.
Summary: What is Out of Position in Poker?
Being out of position doesn’t mean you can’t act and must fold every hand. To be a successful player, you should learn how to play this position and ensure that it becomes part of your winning strategy and is not a weak link in your skillset.
Poker Common Queries
What is the difference between out of position and in position in poker?
In position means you are acting late and can see what your opponents do before you play. Out of position means you’re among the first to act, letting them judge their moves based on your actions.
What does "out of position" mean?
It means you are one of the first to act during a betting round.
How to play out of position in poker?
Wait for stronger hands, and don’t be too aggressive, but don’t let players in better positions bully you out of the hand every round.
What does in position mean in poker?
Being in position means you are one of the last to act. The other players have made their moves, you have watched them, and now’s your chance to swoop in and take advantage.
Comments (0)