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Position post flop

our users say that this strategy is worth: four aces
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FOUR ACES
Thursday November, 12th 2009 by fullhouse

Position is essentially assigned to players pre flop, but you will have the ability to create a better position for yourself post flop. The small blind and big blind will be trapped for the entirety of the hand when it comes to trying to gain better position post flop, but all other positions can work for a better position. The ideal situation for any player post flop (with pretty much any hand) is to be in position. When you are playing hands out of position it will be very tough to gauge what your opponent is going to do or what they are likely holding.

Playing pre flop for solid position post flop

There are many positions pre flop that are predetermined, some good, and some bad. How you handle your position can help set up what kind of shape you will be in to play a hand post flop. For example, if you are in EP and limp into the pot, you are setting yourself up for a difficult hand. If other players come along it will mean that you are out of position (you act first) and will have to invest money before seeing how the other players act. If you decide to raise, as opposed to limp, from EP you may very well have the same fate, but at least you gave yourself an opportunity to take the pot away pre flop.
MP, CO, and the BTN will have the best opportunity pre flop to set themselves up for success post flop. They will already have position over the other players by default pre flop and will have fewer players to knock out in order to assure that they are in position. An MP player may encounter a bit of difficulty when trying to play in position as they will have to knock out everyone but the SB or BB. The CO and BTN, however, must knock out only one player (the CO) or no players (the BTN) to accomplish great post flop position. Limping from EP is terrible because there are so many players to act behind you and it is impossible to take away the pot right away, but limping from MP, CO, or the BTN can be terrible as well. When you are the MP, CO, or BTN pre flop you have been given incredible position automatically, your only job is to retain or improve that position for post flop play.

Playing in position post flop

Playing in position post flop means that the other player(s) will act ahead of you. After the other players act it will be up to you to decide how you want to counter their moves. The advantage to play in position is obvious, it allows you to make the most well informed decisions prior to investing any money into the pot.

Playing out of position post flop

Playing out of position post flop means that there are player(s) who will act after you. It can be a tremendous burden, especially in a large pot, to have to act before anyone else. When out of position you will be forced to make decisions while not knowing what the other player is planning to do. Playing out of position should be avoided whenever possible as it will create unnecessarily difficult situations.