HomeHaving explained about the different categories of position and defined some of the terms used relating to this subject, it is time to discuss exactly how position and hand selection are relevant to each other. Over the next few articles, we will talk about how you should consider your position when deciding which hands to play. At this stage, we’re talking about what are known as “pre-flop decisions” – decisions that you make on the first round of betting, before the flop is dealt.
Playing from the Blinds
Playing from the blinds in a hand has both advantages and disadvantages. Firstly, you are forced to put some money in the pot, regardless of what two cards you are dealt. If there are raises before you and you don’t have much in the way of a hand, then you’ll be forced to fold and sacrifice the blind you’ve had to pay. However, you also have the benefit of acting after everyone else before the flop, so you do get to see what action all the other players have taken before you have to act yourself decision. This information helps you make a decision, as you will have an idea of the strength of your hand relative to what your opponents have.
For example, if there has been a big raise from early position and a couple of callers then it is reasonably safe to assume that there are some big hands out there, and you should only be getting involved if you have a strong hand yourself. If you have a premium pair – AA, KK or QQ – then you should be thinking about a re-raise. With other pairs like JJ or TT or call is probably best, and you might also want to call with a strong ace – like AK or AQ. You need to consider the size of the raise, and how many people are in the pot before deciding how to act. If there are lots of players in the pot, and the raise has not been to big then you may want to consider other hands that play well in a multi way pot, such as suited connectors.
You should remember that, after the flop, you will be in early position and first to act – which puts you at a disadvantage. The general rule for hand selection from the blinds is to stick to playing strong hands, unless there is a strong argument for getting involved with something weaker.
Please check back in a week for the next article in this series.
