Position at a Hold'em table
Your position in poker — where you sit relative to the dealer button — decides when you act, and acting later means every decision is made with your opponents' moves already on the table. That late information is a hidden edge you carry into every pot; drill each seat in the poker positions trainer until it is second nature.
What "position" means
Position is where you sit relative to the dealer button, which decides the order you act in on every betting round. Some seats act first and blind; others act last and informed.
The six seats in 6-max
Going clockwise from the button: Button (BTN), Small Blind (SB), Big Blind (BB), Under the Gun (UTG), Middle Position (MP), and Cutoff (CO). UTG and MP make up early-to-middle position; CO and BTN are "late" position; SB and BB are the blinds.
Where you sit changes everything
The later you act, the more you already know when it's your turn. Acting last is such an edge that the same hand is a raise on the button and a fold under the gun. Colour = how good the seat is. Tap one to see how it plays.
- Early — hardest
- Middle
- Late — strong
- Button — best
- Blinds — forced bets
Shown 6-handed. Full-ring tables (9–10 players) add earlier seats — UTG+1/2, the lojack and hijack — but the rule never changes: the later you act, the wider you can play.
Why acting later is a huge edge
Whoever acts last sees what everyone else does before deciding. On the flop, turn and river the Button acts last, so it collects the most information and controls the size of the pot. Deciding with your opponent's bet already in front of you, street after street, wins more over a session than any single premium hand does.
Preflop vs postflop order
Before the flop, action starts with UTG and the Big Blind acts last. After the flop the blinds are forced to act first and the Button acts last on every street. That is why the Button is the single most profitable seat and the blinds are the toughest.
- The Button acts last on the flop, turn and river, making it the most profitable seat.
- In 6-max the seats are UTG, MP, CO, BTN, SB, BB; CO and BTN are "late" position.
- Play tight from early position and open up your range in late position where you act last.
- The button rotates one seat clockwise every hand, so everyone rotates through all positions.
Test yourself
Answer them all — 16/20 to pass. Every answer gets an explanation.
Which seat acts last on the flop, turn and river?
The Button acts last on every postflop street, giving it the most information and control.
In a 6-max game, which position acts first preflop?
After the blinds are posted, UTG is first to act before the flop.
Which player acts last preflop?
Preflop, action ends with the Big Blind, who has already posted and gets the last say.
What does the abbreviation "CO" stand for?
CO is the Cutoff, the seat directly to the right of the Button.
Which seat is immediately to the left of the Button?
The Small Blind sits directly to the left of the Button and posts the small blind.
Why is acting later such an advantage?
Acting last means more information about opponents' actions and more control over the pot.
After a hand ends, how does the Button move?
The Button rotates one seat clockwise each hand so everyone rotates through all positions.
Which two seats are considered "late" position in 6-max?
The Cutoff and Button are late position, acting near or at the end of the action.
Which hand is strong enough to play comfortably from any position, including UTG?
Pocket aces is the best starting hand and plays well from every seat.
Which type of hand gains the most value from late position?
Suited connectors and other speculative hands play better in late position where you act last.
Postflop, which player is forced to act first?
Postflop, action starts with the first active player to the left of the Button, typically the Small Blind.
Which seats are generally the toughest to play from?
The blinds are forced to act first postflop, making them the hardest positions to play.
What does "UTG" stand for?
UTG means Under the Gun, the first seat to act preflop.
In 6-max, how many players post a blind each hand?
Two players post blinds each hand: the Small Blind and the Big Blind.
General guideline for how many hands to play by position?
You should play tighter from early position and open up your range in late position.
Which seat sits directly to the right of the Button?
The Cutoff is immediately to the right of the Button.
Why is the Button called the most profitable seat?
The Button acts last after the flop, giving it the most information and control over the pot.
Which position is between UTG and the Cutoff in 6-max?
Middle Position sits between UTG and the Cutoff in a 6-max lineup.
Does position stay with the same player the whole session?
Because the button rotates each hand, every player cycles through all positions.
Having position on an opponent means you:
Having position means you act after that opponent, so you decide with more information.
Review — all 20 questions & answers tap to expand
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Which seat acts last on the flop, turn and river?
Answer Button
The Button acts last on every postflop street, giving it the most information and control.
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In a 6-max game, which position acts first preflop?
Answer Under the Gun (UTG)
After the blinds are posted, UTG is first to act before the flop.
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Which player acts last preflop?
Answer Big Blind
Preflop, action ends with the Big Blind, who has already posted and gets the last say.
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What does the abbreviation "CO" stand for?
Answer Cutoff
CO is the Cutoff, the seat directly to the right of the Button.
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Which seat is immediately to the left of the Button?
Answer Small Blind
The Small Blind sits directly to the left of the Button and posts the small blind.
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Why is acting later such an advantage?
Answer You get to see how opponents act before you decide
Acting last means more information about opponents' actions and more control over the pot.
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After a hand ends, how does the Button move?
Answer It moves one seat clockwise
The Button rotates one seat clockwise each hand so everyone rotates through all positions.
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Which two seats are considered "late" position in 6-max?
Answer Cutoff and Button
The Cutoff and Button are late position, acting near or at the end of the action.
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Which hand is strong enough to play comfortably from any position, including UTG?
Answer Pocket aces
Pocket aces is the best starting hand and plays well from every seat.
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Which type of hand gains the most value from late position?
Answer Speculative hands like suited connectors
Suited connectors and other speculative hands play better in late position where you act last.
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Postflop, which player is forced to act first?
Answer The first active player left of the Button (usually the Small Blind)
Postflop, action starts with the first active player to the left of the Button, typically the Small Blind.
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Which seats are generally the toughest to play from?
Answer The blinds (SB and BB)
The blinds are forced to act first postflop, making them the hardest positions to play.
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What does "UTG" stand for?
Answer Under the Gun
UTG means Under the Gun, the first seat to act preflop.
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In 6-max, how many players post a blind each hand?
Answer Two
Two players post blinds each hand: the Small Blind and the Big Blind.
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General guideline for how many hands to play by position?
Answer Tight in early position, wider in late position
You should play tighter from early position and open up your range in late position.
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Which seat sits directly to the right of the Button?
Answer Cutoff
The Cutoff is immediately to the right of the Button.
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Why is the Button called the most profitable seat?
Answer It acts last postflop with maximum information and control
The Button acts last after the flop, giving it the most information and control over the pot.
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Which position is between UTG and the Cutoff in 6-max?
Answer Middle Position (MP)
Middle Position sits between UTG and the Cutoff in a 6-max lineup.
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Does position stay with the same player the whole session?
Answer No, it changes every hand as the button rotates
Because the button rotates each hand, every player cycles through all positions.
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Having position on an opponent means you:
Answer Act after them on each betting round
Having position means you act after that opponent, so you decide with more information.