Most players start playing poker very casually; maybe they win a home game and take to it. They start beating there friends regularly, and they are hooked.

Unless you are wealthy to begin with, when you first start to play poker more than just casually, you will be playing the micro stakes. These stakes can be quite frustrating, but also quite rewarding in terms of building your bankroll, and a feeling of accomplishment when you are able to advance levels. Even if you have plenty of money to play poker with, it is recommended to play micro stakes for at least a little bit just so you can play with players at your level.

Profitable play at these very small stakes is done mostly with straight forward play. Many people have a preference towards the 6-max games because they feel they get more opportunities to play hands. One of the most important things at any stake and any type of poker game is position, however in short handed micro stakes, it is paramount. Position is a basic poker fundamental that ca always be revisited and worked on.

It is extremely important to understand how strong your hand is relative to how many players are waiting to act behind you and whether you will be out of position after the flop. Being last to act gives you a clear cut advantage in any betting round of any game. Being in position allows you to get a read on players and see what move they are going to make. You can also give yourself position by betting and making the other players react to what you are doing, but that is for a different article. The simple fact is that having position gives you a very clear indication of where you stand in a hand.

You should always be fully aware of not only your position, but the situation you are presented with. If you raise under the gun and the button calls, you are now going to be out of position after the flop. The value of your hand (even with a premium hand) dramatically diminishes once you lose your position on an opponent. Good veteran players know how important it is to have position, and you will see them using it to there advantage, making small value-bets that are tough to call when you are out of position.

Most new poker plaeyrs do not think much about their position at the table. They play all hands in the same way. This is a grave error. Some hands should be folded preflop when you are in bad position, whereas others are playable in later position. Always be aware of your position at the table!

The author writes for a No-Limit Hold’em Advice website