Poker Glossary
Poker glossary

Position

Position is a player's place in the betting order relative to the button. The later you act, the better your position, because you see what the others do first.

The simple explanation

Before the flop, the first to act is the player after the big blind. After the flop, the first to act is the small blind or the first player left of the button, and the button acts last. Positions have names: under the gun, hijack, cutoff, button, small blind and big blind.

A closer look

Position is one of the most important strategic concepts. In position you can control the size of the pot, see the opponent's action, take free cards and bluff more effectively. Out of position you must act without information. Because of this, ranges are tighter in early position and wider in late position. Positions are grouped as early, middle and late. A good player plays more hands on the button and fewer from under the gun.

A practical example

On the button, you act last on every street after the flop, and you can see what the other players do before you act.

Full explanation

Position is a player’s place in the betting order relative to the button. The later you act, the better your position, because you see what the others do first.

Position is where you sit relative to the button.

The later you act, the better.

The button acts last after the flop.

Play more hands in late position.

Position and action order

No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake

Read the full hand transcript
  1. Preflop · Pot: 3 chips

    The blinds are posted. Players are shown clockwise from the button. Chip amounts are used throughout.

    • Button BTN Ace of spades (As)Queen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
    • Small blind SB 8 of clubs (8c)3 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
    • Big blind BB King of hearts (Kh)Jack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
    • Under the gun UTG 9 of clubs (9c)4 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
    • Hijack HJ 10 of spades (Ts)6 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
    • Cutoff CO 7 of clubs (7c)5 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
  2. 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 Ace of spades (As)Queen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
    • Small blind SB 8 of clubs (8c)3 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
    • Big blind BB King of hearts (Kh)Jack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
    • Under the gun UTG 9 of clubs (9c)4 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Hijack HJ 10 of spades (Ts)6 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
    • Cutoff CO 7 of clubs (7c)5 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
  3. 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 Ace of spades (As)Queen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
    • Small blind SB 8 of clubs (8c)3 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
    • Big blind BB King of hearts (Kh)Jack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
    • Under the gun UTG 9 of clubs (9c)4 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Hijack HJ 10 of spades (Ts)6 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Cutoff CO 7 of clubs (7c)5 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
  4. 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 Ace of spades (As)Queen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
    • Small blind SB 8 of clubs (8c)3 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
    • Big blind BB King of hearts (Kh)Jack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
    • Under the gun UTG 9 of clubs (9c)4 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Hijack HJ 10 of spades (Ts)6 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Cutoff CO 7 of clubs (7c)5 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
  5. 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 Ace of spades (As)Queen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
    • Small blind SB 8 of clubs (8c)3 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
    • Big blind BB King of hearts (Kh)Jack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
    • Under the gun UTG 9 of clubs (9c)4 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Hijack HJ 10 of spades (Ts)6 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Cutoff CO 7 of clubs (7c)5 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
  6. 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 Ace of spades (As)Queen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
    • Small blind SB 8 of clubs (8c)3 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1 · Folded
    • Big blind BB King of hearts (Kh)Jack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
    • Under the gun UTG 9 of clubs (9c)4 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Hijack HJ 10 of spades (Ts)6 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Cutoff CO 7 of clubs (7c)5 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
  7. 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 Ace of spades (As)Queen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
    • Small blind SB 8 of clubs (8c)3 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1 · Folded
    • Big blind BB King of hearts (Kh)Jack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
    • Under the gun UTG 9 of clubs (9c)4 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Hijack HJ 10 of spades (Ts)6 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Cutoff CO 7 of clubs (7c)5 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
  8. 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: Ace of diamonds (Ad)7 of spades (7s)2 of hearts (2h)

    • Button BTN Ace of spades (As)Queen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
    • Small blind SB 8 of clubs (8c)3 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Big blind BB King of hearts (Kh)Jack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
    • Under the gun UTG 9 of clubs (9c)4 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Hijack HJ 10 of spades (Ts)6 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Cutoff CO 7 of clubs (7c)5 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
  9. 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: Ace of diamonds (Ad)7 of spades (7s)2 of hearts (2h)

    • Button BTN Ace of spades (As)Queen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
    • Small blind SB 8 of clubs (8c)3 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Big blind BB King of hearts (Kh)Jack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
    • Under the gun UTG 9 of clubs (9c)4 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Hijack HJ 10 of spades (Ts)6 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Cutoff CO 7 of clubs (7c)5 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
  10. 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: Ace of diamonds (Ad)7 of spades (7s)2 of hearts (2h)

    • Button BTN Ace of spades (As)Queen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 190 · In this round 4
    • Small blind SB 8 of clubs (8c)3 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Big blind BB King of hearts (Kh)Jack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
    • Under the gun UTG 9 of clubs (9c)4 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Hijack HJ 10 of spades (Ts)6 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Cutoff CO 7 of clubs (7c)5 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
  11. 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: Ace of diamonds (Ad)7 of spades (7s)2 of hearts (2h)

    • Button BTN Ace of spades (As)Queen of hearts (Qh) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
    • Small blind SB 8 of clubs (8c)3 of diamonds (3d) · Stack 199 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Big blind BB King of hearts (Kh)Jack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Under the gun UTG 9 of clubs (9c)4 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Hijack HJ 10 of spades (Ts)6 of clubs (6c) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Cutoff CO 7 of clubs (7c)5 of diamonds (5d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded

Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.

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