Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,035
Being OOP just means you're not first to act.
This is bad for a few reasons, not the least of which is (a) you don't get to see your opponent's actions, which is useful information, and (b) it's harder to extract.
For example, you hold 33 in late position. Villain in middle position makes it 3bb to go, you call hoping to setmine, everyone else folds.
Flop comes K82, complete whiff for you. Villain checks, you continuation bet (c-bet) about 65% of the pot. Villain most likely missed the flop, their flop check points in this direction and even if they hit, maybe something like 98s, is that enough to continue with the hand in the face of your flop bet? Maybe 85% of the time the answer is no.
[This does not mean that your c-bets will work 85% of the time, they may "float" you.]
Now if you're the one out-of-position (OOP) with that same hand, you can try donkbetting (betting when first to act) but there's two overs, not a great idea because you're probably not ahead. You can always check behind and pray for a three but your hand has pretty much zero showdown value.
Put another way, being in-position (IP) means that you can bet with little or no hand and your villain is the one in a pickle, not you.
On the other hand, if you're asking this question, you're quite new to the game so I suggest that you do NOT start c-betting like crazy. It's something that requires an awareness of a number of variables. Used indiscriminately is a great way to spew loads of cash at the tables.
