Starting Hands and position
Entry posted by AKQ
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Position is a key part of a successful poker game, and is often overlooked by players (I never used to take notice either). The best position to be in is to the right of the small-blind, ie the dealer. The advantage of being in this position is that you are the last player to act after the flop has come out, so you know what everyone else has done before you, so you can act accordingly.
There are three 'classes' of position; early, middle and late. As mentioned above, the best position is late position. So how to take advantage of your position?
In early position you should fold almost every hand, because you will be first to act after the flop, and you will not have a clue whether anyone hit the flop or not. I read somewhere that you should never call in early position, and I agree. You should only play premium hands from early position, and when you do get them, raise.
In middle position you can play more hands, you shoudl limp in with low pocket pairs like 3,3. Again you should fold all marginal hands like King-6, Queen-8 etc. Raise with your premium hands.
In late position you can play even more hands, such as suited connectors like 8,9 etc. The great thing about this position is that after the flop, everyone may check to you, so you can bet and scare players off the hand. Of course you have to be careful if the board looks dangerous (flush draws, straight draws and flop pairs).
Early position hands: Raise with: AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AK, AQ, AJ, perhaps call with 1010, 99
Middle position hands: Raise with: same as above plus 1010, 99, 88
call with: any pocket pair, A10, A9, A8, KQ
Late position: Raise with: same as above plus 77, 66, KQ, A10, A9, A8
call with: any pocket pair not mentioned above, any ace, suited connectors higher than 6,7. KQ, KJ, QJ, K10
Remember the chart is assuming that no-one has raised you!
Thanks for reading. 
Next up, how to beat the fish! (bad players) 
Just a little note (and I'm not being nasty here), whoever has rated this blog 1/5 stars: If you don't like poker, why read the blog?? 
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