Poker is a game of skill, and numerous factors influence whether you will end up as a winning or losing player in the long run. Every card, every decision matters, but the thing that matters the most is your position in the hand. The later, the better, that’s how positions work in Poker. But the strongest position of all positions is the Dealer position. 

The dealer position, which is also known as the button, gives you a considerable edge over all other players in the hand. When you are on the button (dealer), you are the last to act from the flop to the river. You have a significant advantage, as you can extract all the information from the players, acting before they do, and make your moves accordingly. 

In this post, we will emphasize the importance of the Dealer position in Poker and how it gives players a massive edge over others. 

What is the Dealer Position?

In every Poker hand, there is a round disk, known as the dealer button, which moves clockwise after each hand. The player sitting in front of this button is considered the dealer for that hand. 

1. In live home games, the players will keep passing the dealer button in the clockwise direction. 

2. In Casinos, although there will be a physical dealer present at the table, the dealer button will still rotate clockwise, from one player to another. 

3. In online poker, the system will keep moving the button in a clockwise direction. 

The player with the dealer position in a specific hand will always be placed between the cut-off and small blind position. 

Why is the Dealer Position the Strongest?

Besides just being a game of skill, poker is a game of information. The more you know, the better your chances of winning. 

Some of the main reasons that make the Dealer position the strongest are: 

Last to Act

When you are on the button, you will always be the last one to act in the hand, starting from small blind to big blind and cut-off, every player will act before you. This way, you can observe every action of the players acting before you. By observing who checks, calls, raises, or folds, who plays passively, and who plays aggressively, you can see what everyone is doing and act accordingly.

Play More Often

When you are on the button and in position, you can play a wider range of hands, rather than limiting yourself to a premium range of hands. This is simply because you are in control of the betting. The dealer position adds a lot of value to marginal hands and some suited connectors like 5♠ 6♠.

Bluff Frequently

Being on the button gives you the freedom to bluff more often and take down pots that would otherwise be unattainable. When the action has checked around to you, it will be unlikely that someone is holding a strong hand. This gives you an opportunity to represent a strong hand and steal the pot. 

Maximize Value

When you are on the button, it's time to extract the maximum value from your hand. When you finally connect big and are in position, it's time to control the betting. If the action checks around to you, then you can initiate the bet. If there is already a bet, you can choose to raise, and if there is a bet and a raise, then you can choose to slow-play the hand or decide to re-raise. You can analyze the action before you and plan your moves accordingly. 

Also Read: The Importance of Bankroll Management in Online Poker Cash Games

How to Make Optimal Use of the Dealer Button

As we have already mentioned, since the Dealer position is such a strong position, it's time to explore the strategies that will maximize your profit from the button. 

Playing More Hands

There is a golden rule among the poker pros, play tight from early position and play loose from late position. This simply means that when you are in one of the early positions in the hand, only opt for premium hands, whereas when you are in the later, dealer position, you should play a wider range of hands with more freedom. 

For example, hands like KJ, A10 and other connectors like 78 suited, can be profitable when played from the dealer position. Whereas the same range of hands can end up being the opposite, as you have to act early and there are more players who will be acting after you, making you not so confident about such hands. 

Pot Control

When you are on the button and in position, you can control the pot, however you want. If the action has been checked around to you and your hand is a marginal one, then you can choose to check back for pot control. On the other hand, if your hand has connected well, you can choose to build the pot by betting or raising any previous bets. The dealer position often gives you control of the pot sizing.

Pressure the Blinds

Both the small blind as well as the big blind will always act first post flop. This provides you with an opportunity to put constant pressure on the blinds by raising in position and building your stack by stealing the blinds. Even if you have an mid strength hand, you can still do this often as you will always be the last player to act in the hand. 

Opportunity to Bluff

If you keep playing stereotype poker, at best you will go break even in the long run. But if you really want to make some profit, you will have to mix and match your game. One aspect of it is the ability to bluff and take pots that otherwise don’t belong to you. The dealer position serves you with the best opportunity to bluff after having analyzed each player’s moves. Bluffs are more likely to be successful from the button than any other position. So make the most of it when in position. 

 What Not to Do When on the Button

Sometimes players get so overwhelmed by the dealer position that they end up losing more often than winning. Here is what not to do:

Overplay weak hands: Sometimes, being in position makes players go crazy, and they would just about raise or try to steal every time they are on the button. Avoid overplaying weak hands even when in position. 

Bluffing every time: If you try to represent a strong hand every time you are on the button, it will be evident that you are bluffing more often than not. Other players can exploit this weakness and dominate you in such hands.

Do not ignore the stack sizes: Players with big stacks on the table are less likely to get pushed around, even with your moves and the dealer position. Always stay aware of the stack sizes on the table and avoid making moves against players with big stacks. 

Bottom Line

To conclude, the dealer position is more than just a handy position. If strategically used to your advantage, it can be really beneficial for you in the long run and help you make big profits. However, be cautious not to get overwhelmed every time you are on the button. Instead, focus on playing hands that give you an edge and try to gauge your opponents' playing style and stack sizes to maximize your chances of winning.