Holdem: Positional Concepts - Your relative position

 See also

There is another aspect of position to consider — let's call it "relative position". It is where you sit in relation to specific other players at the table. Obviously, your position with respect to the button will change as it moves around the table. Your relative position to another player will be less volatile. For instance, if you sit immediately on a player's left, then you'll act after him on every hand with the exception of ones on which he has the button. If you sit directly opposite him at the table, you will act before and after him equally often.

If there is a player who is very aggressive and raises a lot, you'd generally like to be to his left. That way, you'll see those raises coming before you act and can drop your marginal hands. If you sit to his right, too often you call one bet only to have him raise behind you and now you wish you'd saved the first bet.

If, however, that player bets and raises almost always (let's say 90-95% of the time), then you want to have him on your left. Because he'll be initiating action so frequently by betting or raising, you'll effectively act last after he has started the action. For instance, this gives you the opportunity to check-raise the entire table when you make a strong hand. Remember, for this to be correct, that particular opponent must be almost guaranteed to bet or raise when given the chance. Otherwise, keep him to your right.

In general, you'd like to have loose passive players to your left. They behave predictably so you're more willing to have them act after you. You will have an easier time predicting what they'll do, and will make the right play more often. You may even want to move into an empty seat that gives you better position with respect to certain players.