What is Late Position in Poker

Introduction

Among all positions at the Poker table, the late position stands out as one of the most advantageous. Understanding how to leverage late positions can dramatically improve your game and increase your winnings.

Here’s everything you need to know about being ‘in position’ in Poker.

What is the Late Position?

Late position refers to the seating positions near the dealer button, typically the last few seats to act in a round. The most common late positions are:

Cutoff (CO): The seat is directly to the dealer button's right.

Button (BTN): Most betting rounds involve the dealer position, which acts last.

Late-position players possess a strategic edge as they can observe the actions of most individuals at the table before taking their own turn. This gives them more insight and enables them to make calculated decisions regarding betting, raising, or folding.

Challenges of Playing From the Last Position

Here are the key challenges you face when you play from the last position:

• Players in late position are often expected to take control of the hand with aggressive plays, like raising or bluffing. This can pressure you to move, even if your hand is marginal.
• Opponents may recognize your position and anticipate that you might be playing a wider range of hands. This can lead to them playing back at you, making it harder to steal pots.
• While late position allows for more flexibility in hand selection, it can be challenging to balance your range. Playing too many weak hands can make you vulnerable to more skilled opponents who can exploit your looseness.
• Balancing when to play strong hands the same way you play weaker ones can be tricky. If your opponents catch on to your betting patterns, they may adjust, making it difficult for you to profit from your position.

Best Hands to Play from Late Position

Here's a breakdown of the strongest hands to play from this position:

Premium Hands:

• AA, KK, QQ: These are the strongest starting hands in Texas Hold'em and should be raised or re-raised.
• AK (Suited or Offsuit): A strong hand that can dominate many other hands, especially in a late position.
• AQ, AJ (Suited or Offsuit): Solid hands with good high-card strength and potential to make the top pair.

Broadway Hands:

• KQ, KJ, QJ (Suited or Offsuit): These hands can form strong top pairs, straights, or flushes. They perform well in late positions, especially in multi-way pots.
• AT, KT, QT (Suited): These hands are playable in late position due to their potential for straights and flushes, and you can take advantage of your position to outplay opponents post-flop.

Pocket Pairs:

• JJ - 77: Medium pocket pairs can be profitable in the late position, as you can see how other players act before deciding to play them. You can also set mine if the conditions are right (look to hit a set on the flop).
• 66 - 22: Small pocket pairs are great for set-mining. If the action is passive, you can call or even raise, aiming to hit a set and win a big pot.

Suited Connectors:

• T9s, 98s, 87s, 76s: These hands have great potential to make straights and flushes, and they are easier to play from a late position where you can control the pot size.
• 54s, 65s: Similar to higher-suited connectors, these hands are good for seeing cheap flops and can lead to big wins if you hit a disguised hand.

Suited Aces:

• A5s - A2s, A6s - A9s: Suited aces allow you to make strong flushes; you can control the action from a late position. These hands can also work well as bluffs, potentially flushing the nut.

One-Gapper Suited Connectors:

• J9s, T8s, 97s, 86s: These hands are similar to suited connectors but with one gap between the cards. They can still hit strong hands and are good for mixing up your play in a late position.

Stealing Hands:

• Any Two Broadway Cards, such as KQ, KJ, QJ, etc., even if offsuit, can be good for stealing blinds in late position when the action folds to you.
• Marginal Hands: K9s, Q9s, and J9s can be used to steal the blinds or antes if you sense weakness from your opponents. These hands should be played more cautiously, but they can be profitable in the right situations.

Strategies for Post-flop Play From Late Position

Here are some tips to outsmart your opponents when you play from the late position -

Continuation Betting (C-Betting)

• Take Control: If you raised pre-flop and your opponents checked to you on the flop, a continuation bet can often win the pot, even if you did not hit the board. Since you are in the late position, your opponents may assume you have a strong hand and fold.
• Focus on the Board: Be mindful of the board. C-bet more frequently on dry boards (e.g., K-7-2 rainbow) that are unlikely to have connected with your opponents' hands. Be cautious on wet boards (e.g., J-T-9 with two suits) where your opponents are likelier to have draws or strong hands.

Value Betting

• Extract Maximum Value: When you have a strong hand, like a top pair with a good kicker or better, use your position to maximize value. Bet for value on the flop, turn, and river if you believe your opponents will call with weaker hands.
• Thin Value Bets: In late position, you can also make thin value bets with marginal hands, especially if you think your opponent may call with worse hands. However, be cautious and aware of your opponent's tendencies.

Bluffing and Semi-Bluffing

• Bluff When Appropriate: Late position is ideal for bluffing, as you have seen how your opponents have acted. You can represent a strong hand and force folds if the board is unfavourable for its likely range.
• Semi-Bluff with Draws: One way to semi-bluff in poker is betting or raising if you have a drawing hand, such as flush or straight. This strategy provides two possible outcomes - your opponents may fold, resulting in an immediate win for you. Alternatively, completing your draw will also lead to victory.

Floating

• Call with Intention: If you think your opponent is making a weak continuation bet, you can float (call to bet on a later street if they check). This works well in a late position, where you can take the initiative on the turn or river.
• Turn Aggression: If your opponent checks to you on the turn after you float the flop, you can often take down the pot with a bet, representing strength.

Playing Draws

• Control Pot Size: When you have a draw, such as a flush or straight draw, use your position to control the pot size. If the pot is large, check behind to see a free card. If the pot is small and you are getting the right odds, you can call or bet to build the pot for when you hit your draw.
• Bluffing with Missed Draws: If your draw fails on the river and you notice your opponent checking, it may be worth bluffing - especially if their hand appears weak. Being in a late position provides an ideal chance to pretend to have a completed set of cards, increasing the chances of winning the pot.

River Play

• Value Bet with Strong Hands: If you have arrived at the river with a strong hand, you can bet for value, especially if you think your opponent will call with worse hands.
• Bluff on Scare Cards: If a scare card (e.g., a card that completes a potential straight or flush) appears on the river and your opponent checks, you can use your position to bluff, representing the completed hand.
• Check Back with Marginal Hands: Sometimes, checking back on the river with marginal hands allows you to reach a cheap showdown without risking more chips against a potentially stronger hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the late position in poker?

Late position refers to the seats that last in a betting round, specifically the Cutoff (one seat before the dealer) and the Button (dealer position).

How do you adjust your opening range in a late position?

When you are in a later position, it is possible to initiate the betting with a larger variety of cards, like weaker aces and smaller pairs, along with suited connectors. The positional advantage allows you to be more aggressive, but always consider your opponents and situation on the table before doing so.

How to steal blinds from the late position?

To steal blinds, raise with a wide range of hands when the action folds to you in a late position. This pressures the blinds to either fold or defend with a weaker hand, allowing you to win the pot uncontested.

Conclusion

To capitalize on the advantages of being in a late position demands one to possess discipline and flexibility. Assessing your opponents and adjusting accordingly is crucial. Dominating the late position, whether by bluffing or maximizing on high-ranking hands, can completely alter the outcome of both cash games and tournaments.