Anyone who hands than a few No Limit Hold' em played more familiar, certainly the mantra "the position is critical."
However, few understand what it is so important, or rather, what situations and how the position of their greatest influence on a No Limit game has.
There are several situations in which the relative position of a player exerts a special influence - both at the hand history and on the output. This is especially true if you:
- flop a set.
- a draw play.
- complicated or dangerous hands played (pot control)
- Opportunities for a bluff looking for.
- Turn the plays.
Part 1: positional play on the flop with a set
To make it possible to keep things simple, we limit our analysis to the heads-up play and discuss the different playing styles depending on whether we have position or not.
It is risky to build a pot out of position
Put bluntly, the worst time for it to play a small pocket pair when you're sitting in the blinds and a raise from late position is. In heads-up, it is difficult enough to make money with a flopped set, to compensate for the losses if this works.
If you are lucky enough to flop a set but has no position on how to build it on the pot? Then there is no simple answer.
If you check-called the flop, this is interpreted is likely to be stronger than if you simply just calls into position. A check raise on the flop could drive away the enemies and limits the gain to a minimum.
If one decides to check call the flop, it's time to think about the proper way of playing on the turn. A check could cause the opponent to afterwards to check, so the pot does not grow. A check-raise on the turn (if the opponent is) demonstrated strength and will therefore attract only a medium sized pot. The only reasonable alternative is, however, a bet on the flop.
Sorry, there are now many good players familiar with this style of play and may put away very carefully. Even if the opponent sees led to a check-raise, a call all the alarm bells will ring with him. Also, a bet on the flop and another on the turn act very suspicious.
In short, there is no sure way to get a lot of money in the pot when you have no position. Basically I would advise you to put in such a situation on the flop and then check-raise (if possible) the turn.
If we take the pre-flop aggressor
If one has even raised before the flop, it becomes easier to fill the pot. Imagine, increase pre-flop with pocket eights. The button paid and the flop comes J ♦ 8 ♠ 3 ♥. How can you maximize the size of the pot?
Since they have raised before the flop, it is quite normal to sit on the flop. Put your best as much as in a normal continuation bet about two-thirds of the pot. This could cause the opponents to a raise if he believes that you have missed the pot.
Let us at this point but simply that the player calls. The turn is the 6 ♣.
Frequently, the correct play based on how well you can read the opponent. On such a flop, three hand rank in the enemy are likely: top pair (usually with a mediocre kicker like J-9 or JT (as he has not raised on the flop), a pocket pair to the boy or a straight draw (often with T- 9).
If you set a second time, your opponent will then pay with top pair and a mediocre kicker? Or with medium pair? And if you check, he will bring?
In general, it is difficult to be paid in this situation. Draw a straight one would not give free cards, but you would lose no opponent that is a pocket pair or top pair plays with mediocre kicker (the pocket pair has only two outs, the top pair is already drawing dead).
Set in a position makes more profit
If you flop a set in position, it is much easier to get money into the pot. Therefore, it is more profitable to play small and medium pocket pairs in late position.
However, there is another reason why you should play better pocket pairs in late position. It simply has a better view, if more than one opponent in the hand. In general, pocket pairs are profitable against an opponent (with position), but they are much more profitable if two or more opponents in the hand.
The main reason for this is not how most players think, because more players are putting money into the pot pre-flop and thus improve the odds for the flop a set. More importantly, however, that the bets tend to be larger on the flop and turn.
If four instead of only two players see the flop, is often put more risky.
If you raise before the flop
If you raise pre-flop and then make a set, you are obviously in a very good situation.
Let us once again the example from before: they have increased with Pocket Pay and the flop comes J ♦ 8 ♠ 3 ♥. If your opponent bets, you have two ways to build the pot. You either raise or you're waiting for what your opponent on the turn.
Does your opponent again, you have to decide whether it is better to raise the turn (usually this is the case, especially when a draw is on the board), or to just call and the river to be seen.
In none of the cases you have to feeling anxious about selling your enemies with a second (or third) bet from the first position or to check-call the flop and then to embed the turn or (if possible) to check-raise. Instead, you simply observe what the / the enemy.
If the opponent takes pre-flop
This is one of the most profitable scenario in Hold'em. The opponent raises pre-flop and you call in position. You flop a set and the opponent has to act first. Since your opponent was the aggressor before the flop, he will probably start a continuation bet on the flop. You have several ways to build the pot.
For a solid, aggressive player, it is sometimes best to immediately raise the flop, especially if the flop is incoherent and appear no high cards. This led many opponents to represent a high pair and re-raise.
If he actually has this pair, it is of course also re-raise. This strategy works best against a good, aggressive player. A possible alternative is to call on the flop and then the attack on the turn.
Remember, a set on the flop is a very profitable situation. If you pay a little better on what position you play your small and medium-sized pairs and use your position, you can maximize your profits and turn off a potential cost center.
In the next article we will dedicate ourselves to the role of positioning in draws.
