Position in poker refers to where you sit relative to the dealer button and determines the order of action in each betting round. Mastering positional play is fundamental to winning poker strategy.
Position is arguably the most important concept in poker after understanding hand rankings. Where you sit at the table relative to the dealer button fundamentally determines how you should play your cards. Players who master positional strategy gain a significant edge over opponents who ignore this critical element of the game.
The power of position comes from information. When you act last in a betting round, you see what all your opponents do before making your decision. This informational advantage allows you to make more accurate assessments of hand strength, control the pot size, and execute profitable bluffs with greater success.
In poker, position refers to the order in which players act during each betting round. The dealer button rotates clockwise after each hand, and your position relative to this button determines when you must make decisions. Acting later in the sequence provides a strategic advantage because you gain information from opponents who act before you.
Most poker games are played either six-handed or nine-handed. The number of positions and their strategic implications vary slightly between these formats, but the fundamental principles remain constant: later positions are more profitable than earlier positions.
In six-max games, which are common in online cash games, there are six distinct positions at the table. Understanding each position and its strategic requirements is essential for profitable play.
Under the Gun, commonly abbreviated as UTG, is the first player to act preflop in a six-handed game. This is the worst position at the table because you have zero information about what any opponent will do. You must decide whether to fold, call, or raise based solely on your cards.
From UTG, you should play a tight range of strong hands. With five opponents yet to act, the probability that someone holds a premium hand is relatively high. Playing weak or marginal hands from this position leads to difficult postflop situations where you frequently act first without positional advantage.
The Hijack, or HJ, is the second position to act preflop in six-max games. While still considered a middle position, the Hijack offers slightly more flexibility than UTG. You have seen one player act, and only four opponents remain behind you.
From the Hijack, you can expand your opening range somewhat compared to UTG. However, you still need to exercise caution because multiple players can wake up with strong hands, and you will frequently be out of position postflop.
The Cutoff, abbreviated as CO, is where positional advantage begins to significantly impact strategy. Only two players remain to act after you: the button and the blinds. This position allows for a considerably wider opening range and more aggressive play.
From the Cutoff, you can profitably open many hands that would be folds from earlier positions. The reduced number of opponents decreases the likelihood someone holds a premium hand. Additionally, if the button folds, you will have position on the blinds throughout the hand.
The Button, often called BTN, is the most profitable position in poker. You act last on every postflop betting round, giving you maximum information advantage. This positional dominance allows you to play the widest range of hands profitably.
From the Button, you can open with a very wide range because you are guaranteed position throughout the hand. You can steal the blinds more effectively, control pot size precisely, and execute bluffs with higher success rates. Winning players maximize their button opportunities.
The Small Blind, or SB, is a forced bet position that acts last preflop but first on all postflop streets. This creates a complex strategic situation. You have already invested half a big blind, which incentivizes playing more hands, but you will be out of position postflop.
From the Small Blind, you face difficult decisions. The partial investment makes folding feel wasteful, but playing out of position with marginal hands leads to long-term losses. Disciplined Small Blind play requires folding many hands despite the sunk cost.
The Big Blind, or BB, is a forced full bet that acts last preflop when there is no raise. However, like the Small Blind, the Big Blind plays out of position on all postflop streets. This position typically loses money over time, and the goal is to minimize those losses.
From the Big Blind, you should defend against raises with a wider range than you would open from other positions because you have already invested a full bet and are getting favorable pot odds. However, playing too many hands out of position remains unprofitable.
Nine-handed games, common in live tournaments and some cash games, feature three additional early positions compared to six-max. The strategic principles remain the same, but hand ranges must be tighter from early positions due to more opponents.
In a nine-handed game, UTG is even more restrictive than in six-max. With eight opponents yet to act, you should play only premium hands. The probability that someone behind you holds a strong hand increases significantly with more players at the table.
Opening range from UTG in a full ring game should include primarily pocket pairs tens and above, ace-king, and ace-queen suited. Playing weaker hands from this position creates difficult situations and reduces profitability.
UTG+1 and UTG+2 are additional early positions in nine-handed games. These seats face similar challenges to UTG, with many opponents remaining and poor postflop position. Hand selection should remain tight, though slightly wider than UTG.
From these positions, you can add some suited connectors and additional broadway combinations to your range, but discipline remains critical. Most hands should still be folded from early position in full ring games.
The Lowjack, or LJ, is the first middle position in nine-handed poker. This seat is equivalent to UTG in six-max games, as the same number of players remain to act. Your opening range can expand modestly compared to earlier positions.
From the Lowjack, you begin incorporating more suited hands and connected cards, but your range should still be relatively tight. Five opponents remain, and you will frequently play out of position postflop.
Poker positions are divided into four main categories: early position, middle position, late position, and the blinds. Each category requires distinct strategic adjustments based on the amount of information available and the number of opponents yet to act.
Understanding these categories allows players to make informed decisions about which hands to play, how aggressively to bet, and when to fold marginal holdings. Position directly impacts your expected value in every hand you play.
The Hijack in nine-handed games is the second middle position. With four opponents remaining, you can open a wider range than from earlier seats. This position allows for more aggressive play, particularly when earlier positions fold.
From the Hijack, you can profitably open many medium-strength hands, especially suited cards and connectors. The reduced number of opponents makes stealing blinds more feasible, and you have a reasonable chance of having position postflop.
The Cutoff, Button, Small Blind, and Big Blind function identically in nine-handed games as they do in six-max. The Button remains the most profitable position, the Cutoff offers strong positional advantage, and the blinds remain challenging positions that typically lose money.
Understanding why position matters helps you exploit positional advantages and minimize disadvantages when out of position. Several key strategic benefits emerge from acting last in betting rounds.
The primary benefit of position is information. When opponents act before you, their checks, bets, and raises reveal information about their hand strength. You can use this information to make more accurate decisions about whether to fold, call, or raise.
Acting last allows you to see the complete action before making your decision. If everyone checks, you know the pot is there for the taking. If someone bets, you can assess whether they likely have a strong hand or are bluffing based on their position and betting patterns.
Position enables precise pot control. When you act last, you can check behind to keep pots small with marginal hands or bet to build pots with strong hands. Out of position, you must act first, making pot control significantly more difficult.
With a medium-strength hand in position, you can check back on the river to reach showdown cheaply. Out of position with the same hand, you must decide whether to bet or check without knowing if your opponent will bet behind you, making the decision much more complex.
Position dramatically increases bluffing success rates. When opponents check to you, it often indicates weakness, creating profitable bluffing opportunities. Out of position, you must bet into opponents without knowing their intentions, making bluffs riskier.
From late position, you can bluff more effectively because you have seen your opponents show weakness. If everyone checks to you on the flop, a bet will often win the pot immediately. This dynamic makes late position significantly more profitable.
Acting last allows you to calculate pot odds with complete information. You know the exact pot size and the cost to continue before making your decision. Out of position, you might call a bet only to face a raise behind you, making your initial pot odds calculation irrelevant.
In position, you can make mathematically sound decisions based on complete information. This accuracy compounds over thousands of hands, significantly impacting long-term profitability.
Successful poker players adjust their strategy dramatically based on position. Hand ranges, aggression levels, and postflop play all vary depending on where you sit relative to the button.
Your opening range should expand as your position improves. From early position, play only premium hands. From middle position, add suited connectors and medium pairs. From late position, open a wide range including many suited cards and connected hands.
This range adjustment reflects the changing dynamics of position. With fewer opponents and better postflop position, you can profitably play weaker starting hands. Tight early position play protects you from difficult situations out of position.
Aggression becomes more profitable in late position. From the Button and Cutoff, you can raise more frequently to steal blinds and build pots with positional advantage. From early position, aggression should be reserved for genuinely strong hands.
Late position allows you to apply pressure on opponents who must act first postflop. This pressure generates folds and creates profitable situations even with marginal holdings.
Postflop strategy changes dramatically based on position. In position, you can play more aggressively, float with weak hands, and execute delayed bluffs. Out of position, you should play more cautiously, check-folding more frequently and avoiding marginal situations.
When out of position, focus on playing straightforward poker with strong hands. Avoid complex plays that require multiple streets of action. In position, you can employ sophisticated strategies because you control the action.
Many players understand position theoretically but fail to implement proper positional strategy. Recognizing and correcting these mistakes improves results significantly.
The most common positional error is playing too many hands from early position. Weak hands that seem playable become unprofitable when you must act first throughout the hand. Discipline in early position is essential for long-term success.
Conversely, many players fail to maximize late position opportunities. From the Button and Cutoff, you should be raising frequently and applying pressure. Playing too passively from these positions sacrifices significant profit.
Position becomes even more critical in multiway pots. Acting last with multiple opponents provides enormous advantages, while acting first against multiple players creates extremely difficult situations. Avoid playing marginal hands out of position in multiway scenarios.
Position is the foundation of winning poker strategy. Understanding the strategic implications of each seat at the table allows you to make better decisions, play more profitable ranges, and exploit opponents who ignore positional concepts. Early positions require tight, disciplined play with premium hands. Middle positions offer modest flexibility as fewer opponents remain. Late positions provide maximum profitability through information advantage and postflop control.
The blinds present unique challenges, requiring careful balance between defending your investment and avoiding unprofitable out-of-position play. Successful players minimize blind losses while maximizing button and cutoff profits. By adjusting your strategy based on position, you gain a significant edge over opponents who play the same hands from every seat. Master positional play, and your results will improve dramatically across all poker formats.
The Button is the best position in poker because you act last on every postflop betting round, providing maximum information advantage and control over the action.
Position provides information advantage that allows you to make better decisions throughout the hand. Good position with mediocre cards is often more profitable than strong cards in poor position.
Play tight from early position with only premium hands, expand moderately in middle position, and open a wide range from late position. The Button should have your widest opening range.
Out of position means you must act before your opponent in betting rounds. This forces you to make decisions without knowing what your opponent will do, creating a significant disadvantage.
You should defend the blinds more liberally than you would open from other positions because you have already invested money. However, avoid playing too many hands out of position, as this remains unprofitable.
Position dramatically increases bluffing success because you can bluff after opponents show weakness. Out of position, you must bluff without knowing if opponents will call or raise behind you.
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