This article is not about the advantages of table position. This article is specifically how to steal table position so that you can take advantage of the benefits that come with good positioning.
If you aren't familiar with the advantages that come with good table position, I suggest you go and read my article called "How Not to Go Broke Playing Texas Holdem Poker by Using Your Position to Your Advantage" right now.
What Is "Stealing The Button"?
Stealing the Button is a tactic whereby you take advantage of all of the benefits of being On the Button, without actually being on the button. Being on the button, meaning you're the dealer, is the best position to be in when playing Texas Holdem because you get to act last post-Flop.
Being able to act LAST after the FLOP gives you an enormous advantage because you get to see what the other players are doing before you have to act. You get to witness their behavior and their betting before having to make a final decision on what you're going to do.
Why "Steal The Button"?
Since being last to act in Texas Hold'em gives you a big advantage over your opponents, you want to maximize the number of times that you are last to act. You do that by stealing the button.
When you steal the button, you leverage your late position when you aren't actually on the button. However, you still get all of the benefits as if you were on the button. Considering that there may only be three or four players to a flop at a 10-man table, being second to last to act doesn't give you nearly as much control.
How to "Steal The Button"
To steal the button, make a decent size pre-Flop raise when you're in late position. What you're trying to do is force all of the players after you, with the exception of the blinds, to fold. You don't care about the blinds because they are always first to act AFTER the Flop. Your job is to set yourself up so that you are last to act post-Flop.
When to "Steal the Button"
There are two situations where you DO want to steal the button...
1. When you sense weakness and you want to steal the pot on a bluff or hidden hand.
2. When you have a good hand that you want to get some value from by playing post-flop.
When NOT to "Steal the Button"
Two situations when you do NOT want to attempt to steal the button...
1. When you have a weak hand and you sense an opponent has a strong hand.
2. When you think a player to your left will call a raise no matter what, which defeats the purpose of attempting the steal.
Realize that playing winning poker depends on many little things. "Stealing the button" is not a game changing strategy that will double or triple your profits. However, compound that tactic with many similar other small, simple tactics (like using feeler bets, how to correctly represent the flop, reading betting patterns, establishing the right table image, identifying tells, and more), then all of a sudden you become a VERY dynamic and STRONG poker player. That's when you'll see your profits double and triple.
If you aren't familiar with the advantages that come with good table position, I suggest you go and read my article called "How Not to Go Broke Playing Texas Holdem Poker by Using Your Position to Your Advantage" right now.
What Is "Stealing The Button"?
Stealing the Button is a tactic whereby you take advantage of all of the benefits of being On the Button, without actually being on the button. Being on the button, meaning you're the dealer, is the best position to be in when playing Texas Holdem because you get to act last post-Flop.
Being able to act LAST after the FLOP gives you an enormous advantage because you get to see what the other players are doing before you have to act. You get to witness their behavior and their betting before having to make a final decision on what you're going to do.
Why "Steal The Button"?
Since being last to act in Texas Hold'em gives you a big advantage over your opponents, you want to maximize the number of times that you are last to act. You do that by stealing the button.
When you steal the button, you leverage your late position when you aren't actually on the button. However, you still get all of the benefits as if you were on the button. Considering that there may only be three or four players to a flop at a 10-man table, being second to last to act doesn't give you nearly as much control.
How to "Steal The Button"
To steal the button, make a decent size pre-Flop raise when you're in late position. What you're trying to do is force all of the players after you, with the exception of the blinds, to fold. You don't care about the blinds because they are always first to act AFTER the Flop. Your job is to set yourself up so that you are last to act post-Flop.
When to "Steal the Button"
There are two situations where you DO want to steal the button...
1. When you sense weakness and you want to steal the pot on a bluff or hidden hand.
2. When you have a good hand that you want to get some value from by playing post-flop.
When NOT to "Steal the Button"
Two situations when you do NOT want to attempt to steal the button...
1. When you have a weak hand and you sense an opponent has a strong hand.
2. When you think a player to your left will call a raise no matter what, which defeats the purpose of attempting the steal.
Realize that playing winning poker depends on many little things. "Stealing the button" is not a game changing strategy that will double or triple your profits. However, compound that tactic with many similar other small, simple tactics (like using feeler bets, how to correctly represent the flop, reading betting patterns, establishing the right table image, identifying tells, and more), then all of a sudden you become a VERY dynamic and STRONG poker player. That's when you'll see your profits double and triple.
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