Middle Position (MP)
Middle position is the group of seats between early position and late position. In a nine-handed game, the two seats after under the gun are usually middle position. Players there act after the early seats and before the late seats.
The simple explanation
Middle position acts in the middle of the order. It is better than early position, because fewer players remain to act behind you, but not as strong as late position. You can play a few more hands than in early position.
A closer look
In full ring games, middle position is often split into MP1 and MP2. In six-max games, there is generally no middle position: the seats are under the gun, hijack, cutoff, button and the blinds. A typical raising range expands from early to middle to late position. Against an early-position raise, you should be tight from middle position, because the raiser's range is strong.
A practical example
In a nine-handed game, the player in the fourth seat after the big blind opens with ace-jack suited. This is middle position.
Full explanation
Middle position is the group of seats between early position and late position. In a nine-handed game, the two seats after under the gun are usually middle position. Players there act after the early seats and before the late seats.
Middle position is the group of seats between early and late position.
In a nine-handed game it is usually two or three seats.
You can play a few more hands than from early position.
In six-max games there is mostly no middle position.
Alternative spelling: Middle Position, MP
The middle seat in this six-handed table
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
Player E is in the hijack, a middle position in this six-handed setup. UTG is earlier; the cutoff and button are later.
Read the example transcript
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
Player E is in the hijack, a middle position in this six-handed setup. UTG is earlier; the cutoff and button are later.
- Player A BTN AAce of clubs (Ac)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Player B SB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player C BB 99 of clubs (9c)99 of hearts (9h) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Player D UTG 77 of hearts (7h)66 of hearts (6h) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Player E HJ 55 of clubs (5c)55 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Player F CO 1010 of spades (Ts)88 of spades (8s) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.