On the Button
On the button means being in the dealer position, the player who acts last after the flop. The button marks this seat and moves clockwise after each hand.
The simple explanation
The player on the button has the best seat. He acts last on every street after the flop and sees what the others do.
A closer look
On the button, you can raise with a very wide range, steal blinds and control the pot. It is the most profitable position. The button moves around the table, so every player gets it in turn. In heads-up play, the button also posts the small blind.
A practical example
On the button, you act after everyone else on the flop, turn and river.
Full explanation
On the button means being in the dealer position, the player who acts last after the flop. The button marks this seat and moves clockwise after each hand.
On the button is the dealer seat.
It acts last after the flop.
It is the best position.
The button moves clockwise.
Alternative spelling: OTB, On-the-Button
Position and action order
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are posted. Players are shown clockwise from the button. Chip amounts are used throughout.
Read the full hand transcript
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are posted. Players are shown clockwise from the button. Chip amounts are used throughout.
- Button BTN AAce of spades (As)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Small blind SB 88 of clubs (8c)33 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Big blind BB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Under the gun UTG 99 of clubs (9c)44 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Hijack HJ 1010 of spades (Ts)66 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Cutoff CO 77 of clubs (7c)55 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
Under the gun (UTG) acts first preflop, immediately after the big blind. This player folds; the action moves clockwise to the hijack.
- Button BTN AAce of spades (As)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Small blind SB 88 of clubs (8c)33 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Big blind BB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Under the gun UTG 99 of clubs (9c)44 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Hijack HJ 1010 of spades (Ts)66 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Cutoff CO 77 of clubs (7c)55 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The hijack folds. Folding gives up this hand, so this seat is skipped for the rest of the action.
- Button BTN AAce of spades (As)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Small blind SB 88 of clubs (8c)33 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Big blind BB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Under the gun UTG 99 of clubs (9c)44 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Hijack HJ 1010 of spades (Ts)66 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Cutoff CO 77 of clubs (7c)55 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The cutoff folds. The cutoff is the seat immediately before the button; the position names stay fixed for this hand.
- Button BTN AAce of spades (As)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
- Small blind SB 88 of clubs (8c)33 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Big blind BB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Under the gun UTG 99 of clubs (9c)44 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Hijack HJ 1010 of spades (Ts)66 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Cutoff CO 77 of clubs (7c)55 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Preflop · Pot: 9 chips
The button opens to 6 chips. The button is the dealer position, but it is not the last player to act preflop: the blinds still have a decision.
- Button BTN AAce of spades (As)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Small blind SB 88 of clubs (8c)33 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Big blind BB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Under the gun UTG 99 of clubs (9c)44 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Hijack HJ 1010 of spades (Ts)66 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Cutoff CO 77 of clubs (7c)55 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Preflop · Pot: 9 chips
The small blind folds. Its forced 1-chip blind stays in the pot. The big blind is next to act.
- Button BTN AAce of spades (As)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Small blind SB 88 of clubs (8c)33 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1 · Folded
- Big blind BB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Under the gun UTG 99 of clubs (9c)44 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Hijack HJ 1010 of spades (Ts)66 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Cutoff CO 77 of clubs (7c)55 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Preflop · Pot: 13 chips
The big blind calls 4 more chips, bringing its contribution to 6. The preflop round is complete: the pot contains 6 + 6 + the folded small blind’s 1 chip.
- Button BTN AAce of spades (As)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Small blind SB 88 of clubs (8c)33 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1 · Folded
- Big blind BB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Under the gun UTG 99 of clubs (9c)44 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Hijack HJ 1010 of spades (Ts)66 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Cutoff CO 77 of clubs (7c)55 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Flop · Pot: 13 chips
After the flop, action starts with the first remaining player clockwise after the button. The small blind folded, so the big blind acts first. The button acts last.
Board: AAce of diamonds (Ad)77 of spades (7s)22 of hearts (2h)
- Button BTN AAce of spades (As)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Small blind SB 88 of clubs (8c)33 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Big blind BB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Under the gun UTG 99 of clubs (9c)44 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Hijack HJ 1010 of spades (Ts)66 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Cutoff CO 77 of clubs (7c)55 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Flop · Pot: 13 chips
The big blind checks because no one has bet on the flop. The action passes to the button without moving any chips.
Board: AAce of diamonds (Ad)77 of spades (7s)22 of hearts (2h)
- Button BTN AAce of spades (As)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Small blind SB 88 of clubs (8c)33 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Big blind BB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Under the gun UTG 99 of clubs (9c)44 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Hijack HJ 1010 of spades (Ts)66 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Cutoff CO 77 of clubs (7c)55 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Flop · Pot: 17 chips
The button bets 4 chips. Acting last lets this player see the big blind’s check before deciding what to do. This is an illustrative line, not a strategy recommendation.
Board: AAce of diamonds (Ad)77 of spades (7s)22 of hearts (2h)
- Button BTN AAce of spades (As)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 190 · In this round 4
- Small blind SB 88 of clubs (8c)33 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Big blind BB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Under the gun UTG 99 of clubs (9c)44 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Hijack HJ 1010 of spades (Ts)66 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Cutoff CO 77 of clubs (7c)55 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Flop · Pot: 13 chips
The big blind folds. The button’s uncalled 4 chips are returned, leaving a 13-chip pot won by the button. On the next hand the button would move; this lesson shows just one hand.
Board: AAce of diamonds (Ad)77 of spades (7s)22 of hearts (2h)
- Button BTN AAce of spades (As)QQueen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Small blind SB 88 of clubs (8c)33 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Big blind BB KKing of hearts (Kh)JJack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Under the gun UTG 99 of clubs (9c)44 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Hijack HJ 1010 of spades (Ts)66 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
- Cutoff CO 77 of clubs (7c)55 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.