Saying that position is important is like saying that the ground a track and field runner stands on is important.  Saying that position is important in poker is like saying that the airplane is important to the aerial dogfighter.  Position is everything in poker.  The player who exists to play the last hand is the most well-equipped player to win at every hand for a larger portion of hands than any other player.  Position is everything, taking the last turn in most sports or games is a worse place to be, but in poker it is the best place to be.  In fact it is the only place to be.  While discussing the terms of position and how to best position yourself for the chance to be last is all well and good, and it is a good topic to pursue, even more important is the overall position in the match itself.  How often can you be last? Being last is going to happen no matter what,  but getting in position to be last more often than other players is nearly impossible, considering the random way in which the game progresses.

But the player can increase the chances of being last through some very simple methods in the playing of the hand.  Providing that you aren't wrapped up in tournament play, which requires all sorts of different tactics, the best way to increase your position is to fold early on with a weak hand, where your position is very poor or you have very little to gain or a tremendous amount to lose.  Keeping out of these heated hands that are dogfights between two other players besides yourself is a good strategy, especially when you have no chance in making the last play.  In this way, you can avoid extremely weak hands, always a good idea, and still remain a threat because you are taking it to the limit on hands where you get to act last.

Providing that you know how to play a weak hand and a strong hand and all the other skills are in place, increasing your position within the game by eliminating the rounds and hands in which you are required to fight it out over a hand can help you tremendously in the long run.

While this strategy should be tempered with common sense, as the player does not want to insulate themselves from too many hands and matches as other players will soon tire of this behavior, it is a good strategy for making sure that you have the greatest control over the rounds and hands by putting yourself in the last position more frequently and making the right plays when you get there.