Position
Position is basically your distance from the dealer button. The closer you are to the button the better your position is, therefore the big blind (and small blind if there is one) have the two worst positions. This disadvantage is partially offset by the fact that they have already partially or fully paid for the first bet pre-flop.
In the suggestions on Starting Hands you'll notice that you can play lower quality hands as you approach the dealer button, but be careful!
The worse your hand is at the beginning the harder you have to hit the flop to continue.
The advantage of position is an advantage of information. You get to see who bets and who checks (and who raises) before it is your turn to act. USE that information. For example say you have:
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| Your Hole Cards |
And are playing on the button. The flop comes:
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| Flop |
The board is checked to the person before you who bets. From past experience you know this person is capable of betting a draw even if the draw isn't to the nuts. The correct play here is to raise and force everyone behind you to call a double bet. The player behind you may re-raise in which case you should call.
Note that in this situation you may not want a jack to come as it could give someone a straight. Your goal is to get money in on the flop with the assumption that you have the best hand right now. If a scare card comes be prepared to dump your hand if there is a lot of action.
Also note that if a solid player raises in front of you, you should probably drop the Jc Th immediately.
When you play this hand you are really looking for a flop more like this:
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| Flop |
And ideally...
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| Flop |
On a related note, if you do happen to flop the nut straight, don't be afraid to play it strongly. You will still get plenty of action at your typical table as the Queens, Nines, Eights, 67's, Tx's, Jx's and under pairs try to beat you on the river. Unfortunately for them this is one hand that they'll have a very tough time cracking.
And as a second side note, don't be afraid to cap the betting on the river should your nut still be the nut then. Don't assume that the other player obviously has JT as well--you'll be surprised how often they don't.
The Free Card
Another advantage of being in late position (especially in last position) is that you can attempt to gain a free card by raising on the flop. Free cards are not really free but actually half price--you are raising a small bet on the flop with the intention of being able to check on the turn if a helpful card doesn't come.
For example, you are playing:
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| Your Hole Cards |
on the button (last position) and the flop comes:
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| Flop |
There is a bet and four callers before you. You have the option of raising here. If the other players are betting or calling with only one pair they will be inclined to check the turn to you.
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| Flop | Turn |
At this point you can check the turn and hope to catch a heart on the river. In this particular case if you use this strategy against most low limit hold 'em players it is probably safe to raise the river if your heart comes and someone comes out betting as they will often bet an ace high flush draw strongly the whole way so your king high flush is almost certainly good.
Also note that your opponents are typically not dumb! If you consistently try to buy a free card whenever you are on the button they will start re-raising you and betting the turn.
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You can use this to your advantage if your opponents have seen you purchase a free card and you happen to flop a strong made hand (like a set or top two pair) when you are on or near the dealer button. You will often get additional callers (by hands as weak as bottom or middle pair) if your opponents think there's a good chance that your raise means that you are on a draw. |
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