When we refer to your "position", we simply mean your position relative to the dealer button. It's often useful to think of your position in term of three generalizations: Early, Mid, and Late.

In a full ring game, there are 10 players at the table. The first two players to the left of the button are the small and big blinds. These players must act first after the flop. The person to the left of the big blind acts first pre-flop, and this position is usually referred to as "being under the gun" or UTG.

The first four positions to the left of the button are usually classified as "early" position. The next three positions are considered "middle position", and the last three positions are "late position". The more players that must act before you, the more information you have to base your subsequent decisions on. Thus, being "on the button" is considered the most advantageous position, because you are last to act.

A player in early position should be much more selective about their starting hands, since they have no idea if they are going to have to call a raise from behind them. For example, say you are UTG with a QJo and call. The player behind you raises, and everybody else folds. You've already committed money to the pot, and you almost have to call the raise, but you can be fairly certain that you currently have the worst hand. Worse, in all the following betting rounds, you are "out-of-position", and must act before the other player.

In late position, if no one has raised the pot, you can more safely limp-in with weaker hands and see a flop cheaply, since there is less chance that you will have to call a raise. In the betting rounds to follow, you also have more opportunity to successfully semi-bluff and buy a free card.

Your position at the table is simply your position in relation to the dealer. The dealer is at the most advantageous position, as he/she gets to see how all the players at the table react before making their own decision.

The person to the left of the dealer is not only the small blind, but must act first after the flop.

The person to the left of the small blind is the big blind. This person is already obligated to the game and is in another early position.

The person to the left of the big blind acts first before board cards are dealt. This is often referred to as "being under the gun". The clockwise motion of play allows those who act later (in late position) to be at an advantage. As a result, those in late position can play weaker hands or "gambling hands" with less fear of financial obligation or loss.

The blind positions and the player under the gun (early positions) must be more selective with their hands, as they don't have the privilege of watching other players betting/raising before they must decide if they want to stay in themselves.

For example, lets say you're under the gun (first to act). You have Jack-Ten, unsuited. The player to bet after you raises, and everyone but you folds.. Now you're in a jam. Chances are good that this player has a better hand than you, with at least an ace or a pocket pair. Unfortunately, you've already bet, because you had no idea or no way to tell what other players at the table had in the pocket.

In addition, you will always, throughout the game, be acting before this player. This positional advantage will continue throughout this hand.

On the other hand, being in the dealers position not only gives you the benefits of observing how the other players are betting, but it also gives you the ability to adjust the size of the pot. After all other players have bet, a raise by the player in the dealers position could potentially double the size of the pot (assuming no one folds). Since the players have already committed to one bet, its easier to commit to a second (or a third or fourth!).