Early Position

If you are in the blinds or the first three positions after (to the left) of the blinds you are in early position. You are in a tough spot.

With many players to act behind you, you lack information. Only the most powerful starting hands can be played from early position if you want to win.

Those hands are:

Large pairs: AA KK QQ JJ 10s 9s 8s 7s

Suited Cards: Ace with a K Q J 10

.................: King with a Q J 10

.................: Queen with a J 10

.................: Jack with a 10 or 9

.................: 10 with a nine

Unsuited Cards: Ace with a K Q J 10

...................: King with a Q or J

With a pair of Aces, Kings, Queens or Jacks you should bet if first to act, and raise any previous bet.

Large pairs are best played against few opponents. By betting or raising you are trying to make opponents yet to act fold. Against many opponents there is a good chance someone will draw lucky cards to beat you, so do everything you can to "thin the field". Bet or raise.

J-10 suited, for example, is a drawing hand. You're unlikely to win the pot with just a pair of Js or 10s.

You're really hoping to make a straight or flush. With drawing hands you want as many other opponents in the hand as possible so you win a large pot if you make your hand.