Caught in the Middle

  The middle of the road is generally a bad place to be. Some people would argue that due to the large number of deceased possum and deer that can be found on the side of most rural roads, hanging out at the extreme edge of a street is a place where one is most likely to be run over by a Volvo. The truth is that most of the formerly cute critters found their Waterloo in the middle of the road, and the force of the impact threw them to the side. This is a feeling common among people who play Holdem from the middle position.  The middle position is tough because it lacks the cut and dried decisions that people in the early and late positions have. By comparison those positions are much easier to play. There are still ways to play from the middle though.  If you have a hand that might be worth playing, your aim will be to try to improve your position at the table. Somebody in the middle can improve their place at the table if they can get some of the guys acting after them to fold. In short, they have upgraded from being a player in the middle position to being somebody in the late position.  If nobody in front of you has done anything to suggest they are working with a strong hand, this would be the time for you to act aggressively from your middle position. An aggressive move might get some or all of the people behind you to fold. In essence you have bought a better position with your bet.  The hands that this strategy works best with are the following: A strong drawing hand (four to a straight or flush), middle pair with an overcard kicker, or perhaps even a couple overcards.  Good Luck!