Playing under the Gun
In Texas Hold’em poker, the player in the first position is said to be “under the gun.” The term derives from the fact that they are the first person to act at the table. In most cases, the player under the gun is also responsible for posting the small blind. Most online poker players agree that the position under the gun is the most difficult position to play. Remember that poker is a game of giving and withholding information; you use people’s facial expressions to form judgments about their cards, you guess people’s hands based on their betting styles. Basically, it all boils down to using what you know against your opponents. If you have the bad fortune to be playing under the gun, you have no information to work with. Because you are the first player to act, you have to act without any clues about what the other players could be holding in their hands. So, you may ask, what can I do if I do happen to be under the gun? The only sensible way to play in this position is conservatively. Don’t throw away your money is you can avoid it. Only play strong hands, and play them safely. Remember, that you will soon be in a better position at the casino online as the dealer button rotates around the table. Just bide your time until you can play from a position with more information.












Created