Poker positions explained
Why the same two cards can be a fold in one seat and a raise in another.
5 min read · Updated 9 October 2026
The seats at a six-handed table
Positions are named by where they sit relative to the dealer button, which moves one seat clockwise every hand. At a six-player table, in the order they act before the flop:
| Seat | Short name | Acts preflop | Acts after the flop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under the gun | UTG | First | Third of six |
| Hijack | HJ | Second | Fourth |
| Cutoff | CO | Third | Fifth |
| Button | BTN | Fourth | Last |
| Small blind | SB | Fifth | First |
| Big blind | BB | Last | Second |
Why position matters
The player who acts last sees what everyone else did before deciding. That information is worth a great deal: you can check behind for a free card, bet when others show weakness, and keep the pot small when they show strength. The button acts last on the flop, turn and river, which is why it is the most profitable seat at the table.
The blinds are the opposite. They have money in the pot before seeing their cards and then act first on every later street — over time they are the only seats that lose chips for almost every player.
Playing more hands as the button approaches
Because later seats have fewer players left to act behind them and keep the positional edge after the flop, strong players open with more hands the closer they sit to the button. A typical starting point for six-handed games (as a share of all starting hands):
| Seat | Hands raised first in, roughly |
|---|---|
| UTG | 15–18% |
| Hijack | 19–22% |
| Cutoff | 25–30% |
| Button | 40–48% |
| Small blind | 35–45% |
These are starting points, not laws. Tighten up against aggressive players behind you; open wider when the blinds fold too often.
Questions
- What is the best position in poker?
- The button. It acts last on the flop, turn and river, so it always sees what the others did before deciding.
- What does UTG mean in poker?
- Under the gun: the first player to act before the flop, sitting to the left of the big blind.
- What is the cutoff in poker?
- The seat directly to the right of the button — the second-best position at the table.
18+ only. Play responsibly — see responsible gaming.