Table position and player behavior
Contents: Early Position, Middle Position, Short-Handed Tables
Your position at the table refers to where you are seated in relation to the dealer button. Your seat directly affects your decision-making throughout the hand.
The further you are from the dealer, the more information you receive before it's your turn to act. There are three main positions in poker: early, middle, and late. In early position, a player starts with the small blind right after the dealer button, and so on in order. 
Early Position at the Table
- Small Blind. The player in this seat automatically posts the small blind and is first to act in every round starting from the flop. It's important to avoid mistakes here—any slip can be fatal.
- Big Blind. This player posts the big blind and acts early in every betting round. Posting double the blind is never ideal, but at least you have position and act last preflop. Still, you're forced to invest money blindly with no guarantee of success. The goal here is to lose as little as possible during the hand.
- Under the Gun – once the hole cards are dealt, this player acts first. If there's no room to maneuver or bluff, it's often better to fold.
- Very early stage. It’s recommended to only play premium starting hands like pairs, AK, A10, K10, Q10. With weaker hands, you'll often find yourself at a disadvantage. As a beginner, it's hard to get into late position, but early position is tough too.
Understanding positional nuances takes time. It’s not a quick process, but the more experience you gain, the easier it will be to navigate future hands. Beginners should stick to playing only premium hands regardless of position—and that’s perfectly acceptable. Just be ready to expand your starting hand range as your skills improve. Check out the most common poker mistakes to help you avoid trouble.
Middle Position at the Table
This generally refers to seats 5 through 7. It’s a decent position that gives you more flexibility during a hand. By now, many players have already made their moves, allowing you to intercept action or narrow the field if you have a drawing hand (an incomplete hand that could turn into two pair or trips). Success here depends on your experience and overall strategy.
Button or Seat 10
This is the most advantageous position of all. You can see every move made before you and get a chance to read your opponents' styles and plan counteractions. During the preflop round, you’ll know how many players are involved and get a sense of their strength. If no one raises, chances are their hands are weak. On post-flop streets, you can easily tell who’s interested in the pot, as they must act before you. Bluffing works well here, and you can extract maximum value. Acting last on the post-flop gives you the power to win pots outright or raise and see more showdowns.
Position Relative to Another Player
Besides classical seat-based positions, there’s the concept of “having position on another player.” This means acting after them. It gives you the chance to observe their behavior and tailor your response. The first person to act is always at a disadvantage—any bluff or weak holding is easier to spot.
Using Position Effectively
In any hand, two factors matter: your seat and the players before and after you. Beginners should study the table, pick their spots carefully, and focus on opponents’ behavior. With good instincts, you can identify play styles, hand ranges, and other valuable insights to boost your chances. Many new players prefer having aggressive players act before them, as these opponents frequently raise. Calling behind them provides safety. Passive players who act after you will often fold in such situations.
In middle and late position, you can raise even with weaker hands. You have more room to maneuver, and using that space wisely will help you reach your goals. Watch others closely and capitalize on their actions.
Positional Nuances and Short-Handed Tables
The examples above are based on 10-max tables. But PokerMatch also offers tables with fewer players. Here are a few tips for starting out at a new table:
• Count how many players are seated.
• Identify your position.
• Choose an appropriate strategy.
Only count active players. Those who are sitting out or have left the table don’t count. Fast fold players drop first. You’ll often find yourself under the gun. If players in these seats leave the session, you’ll be facing only seven opponents. Things escalate when only six remain—then you’re left with the blinds, BTN, CO, middle, and early positions. Once the table shrinks to five, UTG disappears altogether.
No amount of advice will help if you don’t have experience. That’s the foundation of successful poker. Hundreds of strategies and examples won’t matter if you focus only on your own hand without considering others'. Reading the situation, taking the right seat, and timing your bets are what determine the outcome of a hand.
Don’t underestimate your opponents. One small mistake and they’ll take advantage of it. One powerful tool for tough spots is the bluff. There’s a reason why the term “poker face” is so popular—it’s all about misleading your opponent. Use tricks and deception to throw them off balance. This applies to both live games and online matches. Just be careful not to overdo it or reveal your true intentions. If you do, your position will quickly become vulnerable.
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