FullTilt Poker Academy – The Power of Position Challenge

My current poker challenge at FTP Academy is to successfully complete the next five objectives.

#1.  Open-fold A-J, A-T, A-9, K-Q, K-J, or K-T 3 times in early position (UTG, UTG+1) in 8- or 9-handed NLHE cash games. (This will teach me the discipline of folding hands that are troublesome when opened in early position).

#2. Raise with A-Q, A-J, A-T, A-9, K-Q, K-J, or K-T 3 times in late position (button, cutoff) in 8- or 9-handed NLHE cash games. (This will teach me the advantage strong drawing hands have in late position).

#3. Win a pot with a continuation bet on the flop with no pair in an 8- or 9-handed NLHE cash game, after open-raising from late position (button or cutoff) pre-flop. (This will teach me yet another way to show strength due to position without having an actual hand).

#4. Successfully bluff on the turn with no pair after calling a bet in position on the flop. (This excercise will demonstrate the power of position verus the need for having a good hand).

#5. The Pro Play  -  Win 3 consecutive pots from the button. (This one is a trickier one to accomplish because you are not always going to have a hand on the button, so some of the time you will have to bluff your way through).

A lot of the above tasks will also require a strong table image. One that implies you only play strong hands. One that makes the rest of the table respect you. If for any reason you have lost your table image and your bluffs no longer work, just move on to another table with unknown players and start rebuilding your image again.

As it stands right now, I still have to complete 1/3 of step 2 and all of steps 4 and 5.

Do you play your hands based on position regardless of what cards you hold? Is your table image strong, passive or manic? Do your opponents give you respect for your raises?