Tip #35 - Don't ignore position when playing draws

Position is crucial in poker, but it becomes even more important when playing drawing hands. Many players focus solely on pot odds and implied odds when playing draws, without considering how their position affects their ability to play the hand profitably. Position can often be the difference between a profitable and unprofitable drawing situation.

Advantages of playing draws in position:

• Control over pot size when you miss
• Ability to bluff more effectively
• Better information for decision making
• More opportunities to semi-bluff
• Easier to extract value when you hit

Problems with playing draws out of position:

• Difficult to control pot size
• Often forced to check-call multiple streets
• Harder to bluff when you miss
• Less information for decisions
• Tougher to extract value when you hit

Guidelines for playing draws based on position:

• Play more drawing hands in position
• Be more selective with draws out of position
• Consider folding marginal draws from early position
• Look for semi-bluffing opportunities in position
• Factor position into your implied odds calculations

As Phil Ivey once noted, "Position is everything in poker." This is particularly true with drawing hands, where position can dramatically affect your ability to play the hand profitably. A flush draw that might be an easy call in position could be an easy fold out of position. Always factor in your position when deciding whether to play a drawing hand and how to play it after the flop.