First off, how would you define position? Well, simply put, your position in the game is your relationship to other players with regards to the betting for a hand.

• Texas Hold’em

Like in most other games, position is of great importance in Texas Hold’em as well. And this is very apparent from the fact that you always want to make your decisions after the opponents have made theirs. And that’s not all. In this card game, everyone is basically playing with nothing. The idea is to see who will manage to make the best decisions and get their nothing to win the pot. But keep in mind that having a good position does not mean that you will automatically make superior bets.

In Texas Hold’em however, the last position is definitely the best. It gives you the edge you are looking for, especially if there are only two players vying for the pot. Other positions can be beneficial as well, but not as much as being the last to act. And good players will take advantage of this and play lesser hands in early position and more in late position.

• The Stud games

In games like 7 Card Stud and Stud Hi-Low, position is changeable and hence, so is its importance. Understanding positions and their meanings is a little complex in these games. There are some hands which can be played more when you are not the high hand. In case you are acting first, then representing hands assume more importance. And in certain other situations, you can make your play more aggressive when an opponent shows a king or an ace, forcing them to act first all through the hand.

• Omaha Hi

In comparison to Texas Hold’em, positions in Omaha Hi can be very complicated. While the last position has its advantages, it is interesting to note that in this variation of poker, it has several disadvantages as well. For instance, you are throwing your game away if you decide to bluff in the last position and your opponents are all good players. The right place to bluff is when you have the middle position.

However, there are disadvantages to the middle position too. Since Omaha Hi means you have to share the winning pot, playing becomes very tough from the middle position. Most players fare very poorly if they are stuck here.

In all, the last position is definitely not the best in Omaha Hi. Just keep in mind that in case you have a low hand, it is beneficial to bet first. If you have the nut high hand, then playing in last position will be very advantageous.

• Summary

The bottom line is that the simplistic rules of Texas Hold’em don’t apply much when you are playing the Stud games or Omaha Hi. Positions change very fast in these games and it is wise for a player to think fast and then act. That is why, it is very important for all players to learn how they can control their position to give them the maximum advantage.