Late Positional Play

Things you will learn:

• What it means to be in 'late position'
• Why being in late position allows you to play more hands
  

Years from now, poker will take place at Wembley stadium. The players will sit on a raised stage as 90,000 crazed fans scream in star-struck frenzy as spotlights rake the sky. Before play begins the announcer sucks in air and bellows, "Let's - play – poker!” A thousand fireworks shot from the stadium's iconic arch marks the beginning of play...

And that's the image we want you to picture when you play in late position.

OK, maybe we exaggerate but the message we're trying to convey is that when you're in late position, it's time to become a real poker player. It's here that you can make moves, be creative and really gather chips.

Position provides a huge tilt in the strategic dynamic. If you're first to act you're often left guessing what your opponents will do or what hands they hold. Conversely, if you're last to act you have information on what all the other players have done - and information in this game is power.

Typically, late position is viewed as the button, the cutoff (the seat before the button) and - depending on the game - the next position around. After the flop, of course, late position could be any seat on the table where you act last.

Bear in mind when considering your pre-flop play that you must consider those to act between you and the button. In some games with passive players you can open the pot one or two places off the button with substandard hands; with loose or aggressive players behind you'll need to tighten up and only make those plays from the cutoff, and sometimes just on the button.

It's difficult to give specific hand advice because sometimes, in late position, you can play any two cards. For example, in the later stages of a tournament when the blinds are pretty big and there are tight/weak players in those seats, you can open the pot with a raise from the cutoff or button with any two cards.

In most games if the action is passed to you in late position you should open with a raise. The chances of taking the blinds uncontested and having 'the lead' after the flop make this correct. Only if the blinds regularly defend or play back against a late position raiser can limping be considered.

In general you can play any hands that have some 'playable' value. So any pocket pairs, any two high cards above a 10, any two suited connectors and any hands like A-5 that have great implied odds if you hit the flop hard. Basically, any two cards with a relationship to each other. You need to adjust to the situation and how the action has developed. If there are a lot of players in the pot a hand like A-9 off-suit is often a fold as it doesn't play well multi-way. If a tight player has opened the pot with a raise you need to tighten up and rarely enter the pot unless you're making a play. If the pot is unopened then you can consider a very wide range of hands.

If you're on the button and one or several players have limped into the pot you have lots of possibilities. This is a great situation to play a hand that works well in a multi-way pot, such as a small pocket pair or suited connectors. You may even consider a 'pot sweetening' raise as your situation is very favourable. An alternative play is to punish the limpers and attempt to take the pot right now with a decent-sized raise. Often you should follow this up with a significant bet on the flop continuing to represent a good hand.

This play can't be done too often against observant opponents but is often very effective. A final possibility is to limp on the button with any two cards - this can be a profitable play in deeper-stacked games. The idea here is that there will be a lot of pots after the flop that you can claim when the other players fail to make a hand. The button is everything in No-Limit Hold'em. Play it often, be aggressive and bring the pain to those tight/weak losers who act timidly in front of you.

Stealing the blinds is an essential part of any No-Limit Hold'em player's arsenal. Late position is the easiest place to do this from as there are fewer players between you and the goal of winning the blinds and antes uncontested. You should not view this as an automatic play as some players do but as a science itself. You should consider the players in the blinds and how likely they are to defend their blinds.

It can be dangerous to try and steal from short stacks as they're looking to take a stand with anything and, conversely, big stacks can afford to make a move at you or see a flop; therefore players with medium-size stacks are often the best people to steal from. However, the best guide for picking on a blind is the type and characteristics of the player. You're looking for tight, uncreative players who only play if they find a real hand.

Calling an early position raiser from late position, usually on the button, can open up a lot of possibilities for later in the hand. This move is more useful the deeper the stacks that both you and the raiser are playing. This is because you have greater implied odds - i.e. greater reward - when you make a hand and greater manoeuvrability on later streets to take the pot away.

You should consider doing this with hands like 6-7 suited that can make a big hand and are likely to be live against the initial raiser's holdings, which will probably be a big pair or two high cards. Against weak/tight players who give up their hands too easily after the flop and turn you can call with some very weak hands; however, make sure you don't overestimate your ability to play post-flop, that the pot will be heads-up and the money is deep.

Re-raising as a pre-flop move is a very aggressive play that can be extremely effective but carries a fair amount of risk. One example of this play is when an aggressive or loose player has opened the pot from middle or late position and you're on the button. By making a re-raise in this spot - with any two cards - you often have a great chance to take the pot away right there and then as you're representing a very strong hand.

The downside of this play is that it involves betting a decent amount of chips as you need to make a big enough re-raise to prevent the original raiser calling to hit his hands. If he has a premium hand you won't like the response you get but if you've picked the right player you'll usually take the pot. An even stronger play based on the move we've just discussed is the 'squeeze' play. This is a high-risk move that professionals use and which you should try and add to your game. The opportunity to use it may not arise often but when it does and you correctly pull the trigger, we guarantee nothing will make you feel more like the big man on campus.

On the flop you should continue to use your position to be the aggressor and put pressure on other players. 'Floating' on the flop is a legitimate tactic, which can be profitable in the right situations. This involves calling on the flop - often with nothing - with the intention of taking the pot away on the turn. This move applies to heads-up pots only and it's particularly effective against a lot of new players who make continuation bets on the flop and then check the turn if they're nervous about their hand.

Be aware that your 'story' needs to be convincing though, so this move will be more successful when the turn card gives your opponent reason to be worried. For example, if there are two flush cards on the flop, you call, and the third flush card arrives on the turn and you spring to life, to some players their great starting hand will suddenly look pretty puny. Another example would be when the flop comes small but the turn is an ace or even a king. If your opponent is holding a hand like 10s or jacks and you're prepared to bet this big card you're putting your opponent to a really difficult decision.

These are some of the concepts and plays available to you in late position. Remember, there's no necessity to make these aggressive moves. If you're playing in games where your opponents hate to fold you'll have to cut down the amount of moves you make. But your mindset in late position or when you're last to act should be aggressive, switched on and strong.

You should be ceaselessly looking for opportunities to take pots away that no one else wants. Remember that the players acting before you are giving you information with their actions. Look for weakness in the form of checks or small bets and attack them with bets and raises. Of course, you need to consider the players in the pot with you, like those who check-raise a lot, when you'll need to lower your bluffing frequency. Also be aware of the board; something like Q-5-2 rainbow offers you a far greater opportunity to win the pot than J-10-9 with two hearts where someone could be drawing or trapping.

Late position is your chance to be a real poker player - to steal, out-aggress, take people out of their comfort zones and make creative moves. Be bold, be brave, be the man.