How to play out of position in poker
Being out of position (OOP) means you act before your opponent on each street after the flop. You have less information and less control, so OOP play is harder for everyone. The fixes: play fewer hands OOP preflop, 3-bet or fold more than you call, check more and use check-raises with strong hands.
Why OOP is hard
Section titled “Why OOP is hard”- You act without knowing what your opponent will do.
- Opponents can take free cards or bet when you check.
- It’s harder to realise your equity: you’ll fold good hands to pressure more often.
See poker positions.
Preflop adjustments
Section titled “Preflop adjustments”- From early position and the blinds, play stronger, tighter ranges. See under the gun and small blind strategy.
- Against raises, prefer 3-bet or fold over calling, except in the big blind. See big blind defence.
Postflop tools
Section titled “Postflop tools”| Situation | Useful play |
|---|---|
| Strong hand vs aggressive player | Check-raise. See check-raise |
| Strong hand vs passive player | Bet yourself: they won’t bet for you |
| Medium hand | Check-call small bets, fold to big pressure. See pot control |
| Draw | Check-call with odds or check-raise strong draws. See playing draws |
| Raiser checked back the flop | Consider a probe bet on the turn |
Common mistakes
Section titled “Common mistakes”- Calling too wide preflop and then facing tough spots OOP.
- Donk betting medium hands into the raiser. See donk bet.
- Check-folding everything: opponents will bet every time.
- Building big pots with one pair OOP.
When OOP is fine
Section titled “When OOP is fine”In the big blind you get a good price, and against passive players position matters less. Still, you’ll win more pots when you have position, so look for it.
What does out of position mean in poker?
Section titled “What does out of position mean in poker?”Acting before your opponent on each street after the flop.
Why is playing out of position harder?
Section titled “Why is playing out of position harder?”You have less information and your opponent can take free cards or bet when you check.
How should you play strong hands out of position?
Section titled “How should you play strong hands out of position?”Check-raise against aggressive players and bet yourself against passive ones.
Should you call raises out of position?
Section titled “Should you call raises out of position?”Usually 3-bet or fold instead, except when defending the big blind.