In poker, where you sit matters just as much as the cards you’re dealt. Table position is one of the most fundamental—and often misunderstood—aspects of poker strategy. Understanding your position relative to the dealer can significantly improve your decision-making, win rate, and long-term success at the tables.

Whether you’re Master Poker Vietnam playing Texas Hold’em or Omaha, mastering position will instantly make you a more strategic and dangerous player.

What Is Table Position in Poker?

Poker table position refers to where a player is seated in relation to the dealer button. This determines the order in which players act during each betting round. The three main categories of position are:

• Early Position (EP): Players who act first (e.g., UTG – Under the Gun).

• Middle Position (MP): Players seated between early and late positions.

• Late Position (LP): Players who act last, such as the button and cutoff.

The later your position, the more information you have about other players’ actions—and that information is power.

Why Position Is So Important

Position allows you to:

• Gather information from others before you act.

• Control pot size with more accurate betting.

• Apply pressure on opponents with strategic aggression.

• Play a wider range of hands profitably in later positions.

Acting last in a hand gives you a critical advantage in reading situations and bluffing effectively.

How to Play from Early Position

Early position is the toughest to play from because you’re first to act. Here are some tips:

• Play tighter: Stick to premium hands like AA, KK, QQ, and AK.

• Avoid marginal hands: You don’t want to face raises and re-raises from unpredictable positions behind you.

• Stay cautious: Early position requires discipline and patience.

Success here is about minimizing risk until you have a solid advantage.

How to Play from Middle Position

Middle position offers a bit more flexibility:

• Widen your range slightly: Include hands like AQ, AJ, 99–JJ, and suited connectors.

• Watch early players carefully: If they’re passive, you can seize the opportunity to take control.

• Adapt based on table dynamics: Tight tables allow for more aggression from middle positions.

This is where balance between caution and calculated aggression matters most.

How to Play from Late Position

Late position is the most profitable and forgiving seat at the table:

• Open your range: You can play a broader variety of hands, especially if others have folded.

• Steal blinds: Use smaller raises to pick up blinds and antes when others show weakness.

• Control the flow: React to how others play and choose whether to build the pot or keep it small.

Many professional players build their stacks primarily from late position.

Adapting Position Strategy in Tournament vs Cash Games

• In cash games, positions reset every hand, so long-term strategy matters more.

• In tournaments, blinds increase over time. Table position becomes even more important as short stacks may push or fold more aggressively.