Early Position hands
Hand One Hand Two
Hand Three Hand Four
Hand Five Hand Six
If you have a big pair, A-K or sometimes A-Q, you will usually play poker these hand glossary from any position, depending on the action. In fact when you have aces or kings,
it can be an advantage to act first. The reason for this is Because, if you bring it in for a raise, a player in a later position may reraise you. This gives you the opportunity of raising again or just calling and trapping him after the flop. Most of the time, thought poker, you prefer having position on your opponents, no matter your starting hand.
Playing early positions, you simply have more players to act behind you. Anybody could pick up a hand and raise you, thus forcing you to fold - unless, of course, you have one of the premium hands, aces or kings. The way you play your hand cash course change dramatically, especially if you get short on chips, or if your opponents get short. Refer to the Betting Charts on pages 60-61.
Play middle position with caution, unless you have a premium pair, A-K, or A-Q. If you do decide to enter the pot no limit holdem with a somewhat marginal hand such as a small pair or suited connectors, you must be prepared to abandon ship if someone puts in any kind of substantial raise. That is why small pairs play poker game much better in late position with several limpers already in the pot. You are trying to hit a flop and win a big pot on the cheap. Limping in from early position with these hands makes you a target for a raise, which you usually cannot call with a marginal hand.
Some of the hands that you might consider entering the pot with from middle position or later are pictured on the next page. If you are the first one to enter the pot, usually bring it in for a standard raise. In particular, this strategy applies to the middle and later stages of the poker tournament.