by Al Sousa (site owner)
Middle position allows you to play a few more hands because of
the fewer number of people left to act behind you. Drawing hands,
like suited connectors and small pairs, can now be played with a
couple callers in the pot.
Many of the books have specific requirments for coming in with
a drawing hand. For example, a small pair needs 5 callers to justify
making a set and getting paid. But as you become a better player
you also read the table. If the players are tending to call more
and you are sure more people will come in the pot then you can call
with less limpers in front. The same applies with suited connectors.
When deciding whether to call with a suited connector in middle
position consider where you are at the table, 1st half or last half
of 10 players. If you are in position 4-5 call with drawing hands
that both cards are 8 rank and higher. If you are in position 6
or later then you can call with 87s or 76s. 65s and 54s should still
be played in late position only with lots of callers in my opinion.
Their rank is too low.
Now what if your 1st in the pot? Since there are less players to
act there is a smaller chance they have a premium hand. Now hands
like KJs, ATs, AT, 88, 77 are raising hands. What you are hoping
is that everyone folds or only 1 or 2 blinds call you. These hands
play well with few opponents. Hands like small pairs should still
be folded. If the players are especially weak tight then more hands
might be raising hands from middle position like KJ, A9, A8s, A7s
but you have to know your opponents. Also being in position 4 (early
middle position) and position 6 (late middle position) should affect
your raising standards.
Connecting 1 gap suited hands like (J9s, T8s, 97s, 86s, 75s, 64s,
53s) need more callers then zero gap suited connecters. It might
not seem like such a big difference but it is. They make less straights
than suited connectors. They need 1-2 extra callers than zero gap
suited connectors. The smaller hands should not even be played unless
in late position and tons of callers.
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