Hold'em is a positional game, perhaps more so than any other form of poker. This is because the button determines the order in which players act for all betting rounds. (The only exception to this are the blinds, who act last on the first betting round, but act first on all succeeding betting rounds.) Consequently, the number of hands that can be safely played from an early position -- which we define as the first three positions to the left of the big blind in a ten handed game -- is quite limited. Since you are out of position on all betting rounds, you need a superior starting hand to make it worth playing.

Playing your hand from middle position, which we define as the fourth, fifth and sixth positions to the left of the big blind, is similar to the play of your hands from an early position. The main difference is that you can now play a few more hands, since your positional disadvantage is not as great.

On the button, and in the position just to the button's right (and sometimes in the position two to the button's right), much of what is correct play is quite different from what you have seen in the early and middle positions. One reason for this is that you will have excellent position on all betting rounds which will enable you to make better decisions than you can make in the earlier positions.