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Last is Sometimes Best
Last is Sometimes Best when playing Poker!
When you’re playing a game of online
poker, there is no doubt about it; being last is best.
Take a look at any game outside of poker, particularly game
shows that involve some level of skill. The contestant to
perform the task last often shows the best finish. It’s
a hard logic to argue. If someone has the opportunity to
see what everyone else has done before them, not only do
you have a much better idea of the daunting task in front
of you, but you’ve been completely educated by the
failures, and mistakes of your competitors. In addition
to that, if you are in a multiple round competitive game,
you’ve gained a wealth of education in regards to your
opponents’ strengths and weaknesses.
Poker is no different,
because regardless of what the layman may assume, all those
who play, know that poker is a game of skill. This knowledge
may be old news, and should be to the experienced poker
player, but for the benefit of those who have never taken
this into consideration, and especially for beginners in
the poker world, let’s break this simple message down
into some detail.
Not to pick on the true beginners,
but here’s a side note to you. It’s less important
to be positioned after you. The more you play, the more
you’ll realize you can build your poker
strategy based on the other players at the table. Beginners
are more likely, and apt to make mistakes; rookie mistakes,
fishing for draws, or not knowing to the best thing to do
with a bad beat (potentially decent hand = bad result.)
Whatever you want to call them, they’re simply mistakes
based on lack of experience. The experienced players at
the table, even the ones playing before you, will try and
bring out your bad play, so as you gain experience, the
first skill you want to develop is an admirable level of
patience. Read as much as you can, but more importantly
play as much as you can. Try to work your way into a late
position at a table with more experienced players, and you’re
getting a free education. Practice makes better, because
if you feel you’re close to perfect, you’re perfectly
close to getting beat.
Playing late in the game allows you to receive everything
after everyone else. As the cards come, you don’t even
need to look at them. Not until you have taken notice of
everyone’s reaction to their own. Does someone have
an immediate poker tell? This is something you’ll take
a mental note of, and check for consistency in later rounds
of betting and in the next game. In this position, you are
truly the cultural anthropologist of the poker world; a
true observer and participant. The later your position plays,
the quicker you can take note of these things.
Take for example your desire to set up a bluff.
Being in a later position against experienced players is
going to require some thought, opposed to a last ditch effort
I’m hoping to hit on the river, type of bluff. (If
you ever find yourself in that situation, you should get
out of the game. Unless you are simply playing with people
who have never played before, chances are, your bluff will
just lose you more money.) You’ve been checking and
calling all game, and all of the sudden you just nailed
it big on the river? Not likely. You’ve got the opportunity
to see your cards and realize the odds are not moving in
your favor, however, if you see everything happen in front
of you and make the case for your bluff early on, nobody
has any reason to believe anything other than you having
a strong hand. If No-limit Texas
Hold 'em is the game, you can check-raise pre-flop through
the turn, and your bet at the river will look like a logical
move; as if the river has only potentially strengthened
your hand. Other experienced players will have realized
you’re watching them closely as you play after, and
you’ll have probably helped put several into the muck
at this point anyway. It’s just much easier to play
it cool and remain aggressive when playing from a more comfortable
position.
Exceptions to table position might be in the Omaha
Hold 'em games, especially the Hi/Lo variety. The thinkers
game; you’ll find yourself bluffing a lot less, and
solely relying on the nuts and
what you’re holding. That’s not to say that you
can’t find a way to work things to your advantage being
seated late in a ring, but you’ll see so many more
players fold pre-flop based on general game style play.
With this in mind, regardless of position, keep your eyes
on your competitors and stay focused on your task at hand,
which is to win, and at the least, improve!
Hopefully this information has only made prior knowledge
more concrete, yet it’s always something to consider.
Poker is a game of adaptation; survival of the fittest.
A mix of patience, aggressiveness, having the table knowledge
and the wisdom of when to use it; these skills will help
you get the job done. If you’re placed in a strong
position, you absolutely must take advantage of it!
Okay, now put it to practice!
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