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Button Play in No Limit Texas Hold'em |
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Right on the button. That's a cliche meaning complete understanding. In Texas Holdem, being right on the button is almost the same thing. First, what is the button? The button is the white chip that determines who the dealer of the hand is. It also determines who the blinds are. The player one spot clockwise of the button is the small blind; while the player two spots clockwise of the button is the big blind. The dealer also deals the cards in order clockwise from where the button is. What does this mean for the player who is on the button? It means that they are the last player to bet the hand. In a game with 10 players, ten percent of the time the button will fall on you. Is sitting on the button a good thing?
Right on the Button
One of the first things most people realize when they learn how to play Texas Holdem is that being on the button is a good thing. This is because a player gets to see the hand unravel before they have to bet. If a player is in an early position, they have the least information as to how the hand will play out. They could make a bet, only to have it raised, and then re-raised again, forcing the player in the early position eventually to fold their original bet. It’s always important to consider your position when you play Texas Holdem.
When a player is on the button, they have the most information as to how a hand is playing. The button is the best position in Holdem and can save a player a lot of money, and contribute to a person's strategy.
Taking Advantage of the Button
Having seen how the hand is playing, the player on the button is in a position to call the shots. If everyone has folded, the player on the button could conceivably steal the blinds with a nice raise prior to the flop. This type of move can also be done later in the hand. Consequently, the player on the button is in position to control his or her own betting destiny.
Play more hands
As mentioned, the button is a good position to be in, and players who are on the button should play more hands than players in early positions. Hands like K-J or Q-T, which should be folded in early positions, could well be worth a raise for a player who’s sitting on the button and is first to act.
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