Position bet
In certain circumstances during a game of poker, a player may make a bet or a rather large raise despite not having any strong cards. In such a case, s/he may scare or force the other players to fold and ensure that they win the pot. In such a scenario, the player’s cards may not have helped the player win but the fact that s/he had the opportunity to place a bet and raise doubt in the other players’ minds, is of prime importance. Such a bet, which is made based on the strength of the position rather than with the strength of the cards, is said to be a position bet.
Such an action usually works when the players to follow are a bit unsure about their actions and the strength of their cards. In such cases, players who are coming before these unsure players, have the opportunity and the advantage of placing a bet despite having poorer cards. Thus, their bets can give the false impression to the other players about the cards they hold and thus win them a pot that they would have otherwise lost.
Such positional bets can backfire if the players have an exceptionally strong hand and are absolutely sure of clinching the pot.
Forrige begrep: Poker face, Neste begrep: Position
