' Early position' (EP) usually refers to the players having to post both the small blind (SB) and big blind (BB), as well as the player sitting to the big blind's left. The location of the button and blinds determines each. The seats around a no-limit Texas hold'em table are usually described as being: Positions in Poker The positions at the poker table They do so because they know there are many advantages to having position on an opponent after the flop. That's because when it comes to starting poker hand selection, good players tend to fold more hands when they would be forced to play from out of position and to get involved more frequently when they can have position. The truth is, most good players play the majority of their hands in position - by a lot, in fact. If you weren't paying attention, you might assume players spend about half their hands playing from out of position and half playing in position - but that would be wrong. In heads-up situations, it's obvious enough to point out that one player will be 'in position' postflop and get to act last on all streets while the other will be 'out of position' and have to act first. Unlike perhaps is the case in many poker games with friends and also lower-limit live games, there's often going to be just two players left by the time the community cards arrive.

The same is true if you happen to rail online poker games involving better poker players, such as the biggest poker tournaments and Sunday majors. If you watch a lot of poker on Twitch or on television, you've probably noticed how most no-limit hold'em hands are contested heads-up after the flop.Ī player opens with a raise, another calls, then it's just the two of them battling for the pot thereafter.

Starting hands no limit texas holdem