Relative Position

Relative position can be a more important concept to follow than absolute position in a game of No Limit Hold'em.

There are two types of position in poker, absolute and relative. Absolute position refers to your position with respect to the dealer. The closer clockwise you sit to the button, the better. Why? This gives you more time after the flop to act.

Absolute position is really only important when you’re playing against one opponent or the entire table is in the hand and stays there.

Therefore, your relative position, which relates to your position with respect to the Initial Raiser, pre-flop is very important. What happens a majority of times on low-stakes tables and/or early on in a tournament is that the initial raiser will make a continuation bet on the flop.

You must anticipate this move and determine whether your hand is good enough to withstand not only the initial raise but the continuation bet. You must also determine if you’re in a good place with respect to the raiser’s position. If not, then folding is probably a good idea even if you’re in an absolute position that seems rather favorable.

Summary: Absolute position relates to your place with respect to the dealer whereas relative position relates to your location with respect to the Initial Raiser. Relative position is an often-ignored concept, one that can make a big difference in your game.

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Tags: Absolute Position, Position, Relative Position