Positions
In position (IP) in poker
Definition
Acting after your opponent on the current betting round, so you see their action before you decide.
Being in position lets you check behind to get a free card, bet when your opponent shows weakness and fold cheaply when they show strength. The advantage lasts for the whole hand.
The button is always in position after the flop. In a heads-up pot, the player who acts last on every street is the one in position.
Related terms
- Out of position (OOP)Acting before your opponent on the current betting round, so you must decide without seeing what they will do.
- PositionYour seat relative to the dealer button, which decides when you act: the later you act, the more information you have.
- Button (BTN)The dealer position, marked by a button; it acts last on every street after the flop and is the best seat at the table.
- Check-raiseTo check and then raise after an opponent bets, which shows strength or bluffs with a good draw.