PLAYING POSITION PREFLOP

Tip: Playing position preflop
Explanation: Playing winning poker comes from playing the right cards in the right position. As with all the other tips, take this tip with a grain of salt. Every hand is different, and you have to incorporate these concepts with the situation at hand to come up with the correct decision.
If you ask any player what the best position is in poker, the answer will probably be the button. Why? You are the last to act postflop, you are in perfect steal position preflop, and you can get into the pot with more marginal hands than in any other position.
Situation 1: You have Q-J under the gun (the first player after the blinds). What do you do?
Ninety-nine percent of you probably agree that folding is the correct play here. The other one percent is probably calling a raise with 9-3 looking to hitting a straight on the flop (yes, I know that doesn't make sense). Q-J is not a very strong hand and calling with this in early position can get you caught in a really bad situation if someone were to play KQ or AQ. As you move on to middle/late position, QJ becomes a better hand, one that is worth opening the pot with a raise if nobody has entered it yet.
Opening the pot with a marginal hand in early position is a losing play because chances are high that someone after you will raise with a better hand. As your position gets later, the chance of someone after you with a better hand gets smaller.
On the button, Q-J is a must-raise hand if nobody has entered the pot. In any position, if you are the first to enter the pot, make sure you raise. You might as well raise and try to get some players with marginal hands behind you out of the way.
Situation 2: You have Q-J on the button and a player before you has called. What do you do?
Calling here is the correct move as you have the positional advantage over any player during this hand. If you miss the flop, but it is checked to you, you should try a feeler bet to see where everyone else is in the hand. If you really hit the flop (i.e., flopping broadway) and a player bets into you, you are in great position for a raise.
Calling (after someone has already called) with hands like K-Q to K-9, Q-9 to Q-J, J-10, A-x, and suited connectors are perfectly acceptable in this position. You are getting into the pot with a big drawing hand in great position. If you hit, you will be stacking the chips in no time.
As I mentioned a couple paragraphs ago, this is the reason why you should always raise when opening the pot. Even on the button, calling a raise with A-x is just asking for trouble. With the raise, the marginal hands will be eliminated, and you win the pot.
Situation 3: You have Q-J on the button and a player before you has raised. What do you do?
Knowing your table is the factor here. If a really tight player has raised it up, throwing away your Q-J is the way to go. However, if a loose, wild player raises it up, you might be throwing away the best hand. The amount of the raise and if someone else has already called should affect your decision as well. Even though you are in position here, you may not have a hand that is close to matching up with that of the other players.
Situation 4: You have 5-5 in middle position, what should you do?
As I mentioned before, raising is the way to go with this hand if you are willing to play it (and the first to enter the pot). However, there are some players who like to limp in with this kind of hand for the sake of just seeing a flop. The same goes for a hand like Q-J and J-10, where you are truly drawing because the strength of your starting hand won't hold up if it goes to a showdown. Seeing a cheap flop is very valuable, so make sure if you are at a table with a player like this and they limp, they could have just about anything.
On a more general note, players that open up the pot with a raise from under the gun usually signify a big to really big hand. Make sure that you are both aware of this, and use it to your advantage if you think your table image is good enough to steal from first position.

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