Pre-Flop Decisions in Middle and Late Positions
Texas Hold ‘Em poker strategy relies heavily on each player’s betting positioning. Because you are only calling or raising the blinds with incomplete information about other players’ hand and what will come on the flop, position is key as to whether to play a hand. In early poker position, it’s best to raise or call the blind with a premium hand. However, as betting proceeds around the table, more information becomes available about other players’ hands as they bet out or fold. This gives middle and late bettors more latitude about which hands to play. From a middle position with no pre-flop raise, you can call with good starter hands, including: Ace + 10 unsuited Ace + 9 Ace + 8 Ace + 7 King + 10 King + 9 Queen + 10 Jack + 10 Jack + 9 10 + 9 Suited hands are more powerful in these combinations. Your position and poker player styles dictate how tight and prudent you must be when deciding to call the blind. If you are closer to the blind with more people betting behind you, be more cautious. When seated closer to the button with fewer betting after you, then call with slightly weaker cards. Being in late position or on the button gives you the advantage over earlier players because you have information about each player’s hand. If no one has raised the blind before you in late position, then you can call with more speculative hands, such as: Ace + 6 or lower King + 8 or lower Queen + 9 Jack + 8 Suited Connectors (7♣ 6♣ etc) Gapped Suited (10♣ 8♣) Most other hands are really not playable and a poor bet. Sometimes you get lucky, but winners tend to stick to playing their hand before the flop in relation to their betting position and other players’ styles.
