The seats, in order of action
| Seat (6-max) | Also called | Acts preflop | Acts after the flop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under the gun | UTG, Lojack at 6-max | First | Third of six |
| Hijack | HJ | Second | Fourth |
| Cutoff | CO | Third | Fifth |
| Button | BTN, dealer | Fourth | Last |
| Small blind | SB | Fifth | First |
| Big blind | BB | Last | Second |
Why acting last is worth so much
- Information. You see your opponent check or bet before you choose. Every action they take narrows their range.
- Pot control. With a medium hand you can check behind and keep the pot small. Out of position, you have to guess.
- Bluffing. When an opponent checks to you twice, they are often weak. You can take the pot with a bet they cannot call.
- Realising equity. In position you get to see more free cards and more showdowns, so your hand wins closer to its true share of the pot.
Databases of millions of online hands show the same pattern every time: win rates rise steadily from the earliest seat to the button, and the blinds are the only seats that lose money on average.
How to use it
- Play tight early and wide late. Your button range can be nearly three times your under-the-gun range.
- Re-raise players who open from the cutoff or button. Their ranges are wide and they know it.
- Call more raises when you will be in position, and 3-bet or fold more when you will be out of position.
- Defend your big blind, but do it with hands that play well: suited cards, connectors and pairs.
Try this: for one session, write down your position for every hand you voluntarily play. Most players find that their early-position hands are losing and their button hands are winning. Adjust accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best position in poker?
The button. It acts last on every street after the flop, so the player there sees what everyone else does before deciding.
What does 'in position' mean?
You are in position when you act after your opponent on the current street. Being out of position means you must act first.
Why is the small blind a bad position?
You have already put money in, which tempts you to play, but you act first after the flop in almost every hand. Most players lose money from the small blind over time; the goal is to lose as little as possible.