Many players consider position to be the single most important factor for poker success. For the uninitiated, position in poker is based on where you sit in relation to the dealer button and blinds.

Acting early is not advantageous, as you don't get to see the action of your opponents. The opposite is true when you're among the last to act. Having the button is the most powerful position in poker, since you're last to act on all streets after the flop.

Furthermore, if you have position on a player, meaning you're to their left and act after them, you have a huge advantage. Fact: Chips have a tendency to move clockwise around the table. Why? Because of the power of position.

On Day 2a/b of the 2016 World Series of Poker main event in Las Vegas, Valentin Vornicu was sitting directly to my left. Vornicu, a veteran of the WSOP Circuit, bagged the chip lead that night and ultimately finished 23rd in the tournament, which was good for $269,430. I'd like to think his main event success was due in part to the chips he won from me using the power of position.

Vornicu seemed to go out of his way to play pots against me. If I raised, he would either call or three-bet. It was annoying, but I knew why he was doing it. He was in position and had the advantage of acting after me postflop. So, what can you do against a player like that? Your best bet is to adjust — though that doesn't always work.

In my biggest hand of the tournament, I was up to 155,000 in chips, and with the blinds at 500-1,000 plus an ante of 100, I raised to 3,000 from the cutoff (the seat directly to the right of dealer button) holding A A. Vornicu called from the button. The player in the big blind came along, and the flop fell Q 3 3.

The big blind checked, and knowing Vornicu, I checked behind. As I hoped, Vornicu bet 7,500.

The big blind called, which made me think that he had a queen in his hand. I opted to just call and see the turn, which was the J.

Again, the big blind checked. I did the same, and Vornicu bet 18,500. The big blind called again. I did, too, and the 5 peeled off on the river.

The big blind bet 27,500, and my immediate thought was that I needed to fold. However, I made the mistake so many players do — I got married to pocket aces. I called, Vornicu folded what he later said was Q-J, and the big blind tabled 3 2 for flopped trips.

The big blind was out of position and check-called two bets before betting the river — a telltale sign of strength. As for Vornicu, I focused so much on nullifying his positional advantage with my big pocket pair that I overlooked the other player. It was a costly mistake.

Position in poker is intricate, but understanding and using it is critical for poker success.