Table and rules
Button (BTN) in poker
Definition
The dealer position, marked by a button; it acts last on every street after the flop and is the best seat at the table.
The button moves one seat clockwise after every hand, so each player gets the best position in turn. Acting last lets you see what everyone else does before you decide, which is a large and lasting advantage.
Because of that advantage, the button opens the widest range of hands. Strategy charts show the button range as the loosest of all positions.
Example
On the button you can raise hands like K9s or a low suited ace that you would fold from early position.
Related terms
- PositionYour seat relative to the dealer button, which decides when you act: the later you act, the more information you have.
- Cutoff (CO)The seat directly to the right of the button; the second-best position and a common seat for steals.
- Small blind (SB)The smaller forced bet, posted by the player to the left of the dealer button before the cards are dealt.
- In position (IP)Acting after your opponent on the current betting round, so you see their action before you decide.