Poker Position Explained: Why the Button Wins More

Position means where you sit relative to the dealer button, and therefore when you act in each betting round. Acting last is a big advantage: you see what everyone else does before you choose. Position is one of the highest-value concepts for new players, because it changes which hands you can profitably play.

The short version

• Before the flop, the first player to act is the one left of the big blind. After the flop, the first to act is the one left of the button.
• The later you act, the more information you have.
• Play tight from early position and widen as you get closer to the button.
• The blinds are the worst seats after the flop: you act first with a forced bet already in.

The seats, from first to last

Seat names count from the dealer button. At a full 9-player table:

• Small blind (SB) and big blind (BB): the two forced bets. They are first to act after the flop and last before it.
• Under the gun (UTG): the first player to act before the flop. The hardest seat, with the most players behind you.
• UTG+1, UTG+2: still early position (EP).
• Middle position (MP): the seats in the middle, also called the lojack and hijack at some tables.
• Cutoff (CO): the seat right before the button. A strong late-position (LP) seat.
• Button (BTN): the dealer seat. The best seat: you act last on every street after the flop.

In a 6-player (6-max) game the seats are the same but with fewer early positions: UTG, hijack, cutoff, button and the blinds.

Who acts when

• Before the flop: the player left of the big blind acts first and the big blind last.
• After the flop, turn and river: the first active player left of the button acts first and the button acts last. The blinds, if they are still in the hand, are usually the first to act.

That is why the blinds are bad seats: you put money in, and then you must act first in every round with no information.

Why late position is worth money

• More information on every street. You see whether your opponent checked or bet before you decide.
• Cheaper bluffs. If everyone checks to you, a bet can win the pot, and a check costs you nothing.
• Better pot control. With a medium-strength hand you can check behind to keep the pot small and see a free card.
• More value from strong hands. When you know the opponent is weak, you can bet for value more precisely.
• More steals. If everyone folds to you in the cutoff or on the button, you can raise to win the blinds.

In position versus out of position

"In position" (IP) means you act after your opponent in the hand. "Out of position" (OOP) means you act before. IP you can play many more hands because you realize your equity better. OOP you need a stronger hand, and you often have to check or fold when you would call IP.

The same hand in different seats

Take K♦ J♣. From UTG it is a fold at most tables: many players act behind you, and K-J is easily dominated by A-K, A-J or K-Q. On the button after everyone folds, it is a good raise: you only have the two blinds left to act, and you will act last after the flop. The hand did not change; the seat did.

A simple range guide by position

• UTG and early position: pairs from about 77 up, AJs+, KQs, AQo+. See starting hands.
• Middle position: add suited broadway hands and smaller pairs.
• Cutoff: add suited aces, suited connectors and more offsuit broadway hands.
• Button: your widest range. This is where you win most steals.
• Small blind: either raise a good range or fold. Calling out of position is expensive.
• Big blind: you already have money in, so you can defend against a raise with a reasonable range, but not "any two cards".

Common mistakes

• Playing the same hands from every seat.
• Limping from early position with speculative hands in a multiway pot.
• Defending the blinds with weak hands, then playing out of position for the whole hand.
• Ignoring who is left to act behind you.
• Raising from the button into a player who often re-raises (3-bets). See 3-bet basics.

Practice drill

For five sessions, mark each hand you play with your seat. Afterwards review only the early-position raises that were not premium hands. You will notice the leaks immediately.

What to read next

• Starting hands: which hands fit each seat.
• How to play poker: the basics of a hand.
• 3-bet basics: re-raising from position.
• Glossary: all the seat names and terms.
• Preflop range charts: which hands to open from each seat.