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Your position at the table is a key to understanding the strength of your hand. You can have one of these three positions: early, middle and late. Late position is better than any other because it gives you more information - what can be more important in poker? So, about positions:
a. Early position
Rising in early position requires premium hands. If you have one - then you can raise three or four times the Big Blind. Now - what do I mean by "premium hands"? Paired jacks or higher. If your pair is lower - then don't bet, wait for the flop. The main idea is that you shouldn't bet if you don't have a premium hand.
You can also limp when having big pairs - maybe this will make your opponent raise - then you can reraise him. But don't do it with small pairs or you'll be reraised
You can do whatever you need with big pocket pairs. In this case early position is your advantage - try to involve as much money as possible before the flop. But when talking about big pairs don't forget that QQ andJJ pairs are rather dangerous - someone may have an overpair.
But this doesn't mean that you should fold with all other hands. These hands are also worth playing from early position: AK and AQ.
b. Middle position
If you are in the middle position then, no doubt, you can raise with the same hands as listed for early position. As for playable hands you can add the following: AJ, KQ, AT, TT, 99, 88. But suppose you have just a small pair? What will you do? You can enter the pot... but if someone raises very hard - fold.
c. Late position
Late position allows you to enter with much worse hands than you need in early and middle positions: KJ, KT, A6, QT, JT, T9. Don't forget - you have information about your opponents actions. Thus, if the pot hasn't been raised yet - then you can play low pairs and even suited connectors. Whatever you have - analyze your opponents actions. This is the main idea for late position. For example, if you're in a company of limpers - then you can raise only with big pairs.
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