Absolut Poker has released version 8.0 of their award winning software. New features include:
- Updated graphics
- Resizeable Tables and updated options for viewing all of your open tables (key for those that multitable)
- Three table view options – Classic, Quarter View, or Top View (personally I’m sticking with the classic, but I’m boring!)
- You can now change the raise amount using the scroll wheel on your mouse – very nice new feature.
While AbsolutPoker.com is still my favorite place to play poker online, once in a while I need to mix it up and play elsewhere. I recently took advantage of the massive Full Tilt Bonus of up to $600 (be sure to use the following Full Tilt Bonus Code: FT600NOW to get the same deal!)

Play at Absolut Poker and you could win the next bad beat jackpot!

Play poker at Absolut Poker today!

So who is in the “best” position at the Texas Hold ‘Em table? Is it the first better or the last? Most would say the last for obvious reasons, but I’ll open the debate to both sides and make their case.

First off, assuming you’re in a casino and the dealer isn’t playing the hand, as well, the player to the left of the dealer is the small blind, and the player to his left is the big blind. The big blind’s disadvantage is that he must make the minimum opening bet no matter what. 2, 7 off-suit? Too bad, you’re in for $100. The benefit to being in this position is that you’re the last person in the round to call, check, raise or fold. So you get the opportunity to see what everyone else does, and how they act, before you technically make your first move.

On the other side of things (actually right next to the blind!) is the Pocker Star guy making the first move. A lot of people would quickly tell you this is the worst spot to be in. You can trap yourself, you don’t know what everyone else is going to do, etc… I can understand this and to some extent agree. And it can be more difficult to read someone who’s just looking at his cards as opposed to betting or reacting to someone else’s bet. However, this also affords the player the opportunity to set the tone for the table. A big opening bet can put players back on their heels, and someone who was considering playing that J, 7 might have second thoughts. Along with leadership comes power and risk, no different in this situation.

If you add things up, though, the FulTilt advantage is at the later seating stages. And while the dealer doesn’t rotate in casinos, the blinds do, so if you play long enough you’ll find yourself in each situation an equal number of times. And while you might feel comfortable only making decisions after everyone else has made theirs, sooner or later a half-decent group of poker players is going to pick up on that and read you and your moves more easily. Switching things up and taking early risks will only help keep you unpredictable in the long run.