Tournament How to Leverage Your Seat at the Texas Hold’em tournament table URL has been copied successfully! Over time, knowing how to leverage your position can turn small advantages into consistent wins In poker, where you sit at the table matters more than many casual players realize. Your seat affects what information you have, how you respond to bets, and even your chances of winning a hand. Learning how to use your position to your advantage can make a big difference over time, especially in games like Texas Hold’em. The best seats at the table are generally those “in position”—that means acting after your opponents in each betting round. The dealer button, or “button,” is the most powerful spot since you’re last to act on every street after the flop. Being last gives you the most information about what others are doing and lets you control the size of the pot more easily. If you’re in this seat, you can widen your range of starting hands and take more calculated risks. In contrast, being “under the gun,” or first to act pre-flop, is one of the toughest spots. You have no clue what other players behind you will do, so you need to play tighter and more cautiously from there. Middle positions fall in between and should be treated accordingly, with a balanced mix of caution and aggression. Beyond pre-flop decisions, your seat affects post-flop play too. Acting after your opponents allows you to spot weakness, bluff more effectively, or avoid betting into strength. This information edge is one of the biggest advantages in poker. Also, pay attention to who’s sitting near you. Having aggressive players on your left can make life harder, as they’ll have position on you in most hands. If you can choose your seat in a live game, try to sit to the left of loose players and to the right of aggressive ones.