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Poker starting hand ranges: does position really change what you should play.

When I first started playing poker, I was stubborn about playing tight no matter what seat I was in. Now I’m getting how position might let you get away with a bit more, but sometimes I wonder if that edge is as big as people say. It’s not like blackjack or slots where the edge is set in stone - feels like there’s a ton of nuance and you gotta adjust for each table.

A lot of folks talk about opening up your range from late position, but what about when everyone’s playing super loose and passive? Do you still widen up, or does it backfire? For those who are big on risk management, how thin is too thin when you’re getting more info from position? Does anyone actually keep charts, or just go by gut and table feel? Curious how you all balance position with your starting hand standards.

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Position does swing the odds, but it’s not magic dust, especially at loose passive tables. In those games, opening up too much from late position can just mean you limp into multiway pots with junk, chasing thin draws and hoping for a miracle. Think of it like roulette, yes, you get a little more info before betting, but if everyone’s dumping chips in on any number, your edge for waiting goes down. I used to track charts religiously, but now I mostly play by table feel and only loosen up when the lineup gives real fold equity. Wobbly tables need more caution, not wild swings.

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When table tilt gets wild, I’ll actually track my chip count way closer than my range. That keeps me honest about leaks creeping in when position tempts me. Got burned before by treating late position as a blank check.

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