Texas Hold'em Poker - Positional Play

The Lesser Known Fact About Positional Play - Everyone knows that the player with the dealer button is in the best position since they are the last to act and have an advantage to see how strong or weak the other players are. However, since everyone with even moderate skills knows this, I will take positional play one step further.

On the very first bet, right after the first two cards are dealt the small and big blind have the option to bet last. Most often this temporary advantage is ignored. Some people aren't even aware that they are in the best position this one time in the game. They tend to ignore it.

The best professional players are fully aware of this one time advantage and use it to increase their winnings several times during a sitting. If a player in the blind has a medium to high pair in the pocket, or a first tier hand such as AK, AQ, AJ, A10, or even a KQ suited and no major betting action has occurred, that blind should make a very large bet.

Why should they do this if they will be in the worst position for the rest of the game after this first round of betting? First they have a great starting hand, which at that point may be the best two cards on the table. They also want to reduce the number of players seeing the flop by weeding out players with suited connectors, low pairs and second and third tier hands. This will increase their over-all odds of keeping the best hand after the flop. It also gives them a great reading as to the strength of the other players.

Let's say you have QQ. If one or two other players call your bet, you mainly have to worry about a King or Ace falling on the flop. If either of those two cards fall, you are probably beaten and should fold on an large bet. However, If those two cards do not show in the flop you can bet even higher and probably walk away with all the money in the pot then or win a monster pot at showdown.

Be careful if three suited cards fall on the flop. Most straight draws should have folded and your queens will probably block a high straight draw if an AK or AJ went in against you. You can lose but in general it is a great percentage move strategically.

Check The Other Players Out

Look at what the players are drinking before you sit down at a table. If two or more players have alcoholic beverages, your chances of winning are very good. Two tipsy players can feed the entire table. When they go broke and leave the table, find a different table. Even one beer will loosen a player up enough to take advantage of them.

Look for Tells Write Them Down In A Small Notebook

You are allowed to make notes at the table as long as you don't show them to any other player while seated at the table. When someone ask you "what is the book on this player" that is what they are talking about.

Read my articles about tells to determine the strength and weaknesses of other players hands. There are physical, vocal and psychological tells and you can read a person like a book. My three Associated Content articles will provide all the information you need to know about tells and reading them.

Finally

All good professional players know to never play if there is anything on your mind. Never play while you are sick, depressed or even excited. If you just met a beauty that afternoon and have a date with her later, don't play. Don't think you can mask your emotions. You can't.