What Is Position?
Position refers to where you sit relative to the dealer button. It determines when you act in each betting round. In poker, information is power, and the player who acts last has the most information because they've seen everyone else's decisions before making their own.
The 6 Positions
| Position | Abbr. | Acts | Approx. Open Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under the Gun | UTG | First | ~12% |
| Middle Position | MP | Second | ~16% |
| Cutoff | CO | Third | ~27% |
| Button | BTN | Last (postflop) | ~42% |
| Small Blind | SB | Second-to-last preflop | ~36% (vs open) |
| Big Blind | BB | Last preflop | Defends ~40%+ |
Why Acting Last Is Powerful
Information Advantage
When you act last, you see whether opponents check, bet, or raise before you decide. A check often signals weakness, letting you bluff profitably. A bet gives you a price to evaluate. Acting first means guessing in the dark.
Pot Control
In position, you can check behind with medium-strength hands to keep the pot small, or bet when you want to grow it. Out of position, you have to decide between check-raising (committing more chips) or check-calling (giving a free card).
Bluff Effectiveness
Bluffs work better in position because you can take advantage of your opponent's check to represent strength. When you bluff from out of position, your opponent still has the option to call and see the next card with position.
Adjusting Hand Selection by Seat
The earlier your position, the tighter you should play. From UTG, you need strong hands because up to 5 players can still act behind you and potentially wake up with a monster. From the button, you can open a wide range because only the blinds remain.
- UTG: Stick to premium pairs (TT+), strong broadways (AK, AQ, AJs+), and avoid speculative hands.
- MP: Add some suited connectors (87s+) and medium pairs (77+).
- CO: Open most pairs, most suited aces, suited connectors, and many offsuit broadways.
- BTN: Your widest opening range. Almost any two suited cards, most pairs, many offsuit combos.
- SB: Complicated — you have position preflop but will be out of position postflop. Typically 3-bet or fold, avoid flat calls.
- BB: You already have money invested. Defend wider against late-position opens, tighter against early-position opens.
Key Takeaways
- Position is the single most important factor in hand selection after your cards.
- The button is the most profitable seat at the table.
- Play tight from early positions, wide from late positions.
- When out of position, prefer stronger hands that can withstand aggression.
Next Steps
- See the preflop charts to visualize which hands to play from each position.
- Review the rules of Texas Hold'em for a refresher on betting rounds and positions.
- Test your preflop knowledge with quiz questions.