Poker Positions Explained

Position describes where you sit relative to the dealer button and therefore when you act. Acting later often provides more information before you make a decision.

Quick answer

The button is usually the most advantageous postflop seat because it acts late. Early positions act with less information and therefore generally require more selective starting-hand choices.

Common position names

Under the gun (UTG): The first player to act preflop after the big blind.
Hijack: A late-middle position, commonly two seats to the right of the button in many table configurations.
Cutoff: The seat immediately to the right of the button.
Button: The dealer position; typically last to act postflop when still in the hand.
Small blind: Posts the smaller forced blind and generally acts early after the flop.
Big blind: Posts the larger forced blind and closes preflop action when there has been no raise beyond it.

Why position changes decisions

Later position gives you more information about checks, bets and folds before you act. That information can make a wider range of hands playable. Early position provides less information, which is one reason strong baseline strategies tend to be more selective there.

Position is not the only variable

Stack depth, prior action, player tendencies, tournament incentives and bet sizing all matter. Position should be treated as one layer of the decision rather than a shortcut that tells you what to do automatically.

Position across a full hand

Preflop and postflop order are not identical. The blinds act late preflop because they already have forced bets posted, but they usually act first after the flop. The button, by contrast, commonly acts last postflop. This change is why a blind can defend preflop and still face an informational disadvantage on later streets.

Relative position also matters

In multiway pots, who is likely to bet can affect how much information you receive before acting. A seat that is nominally “later” may still have awkward relative position if an aggressive player sits immediately behind you. Treat table position as an information advantage, not just a label.

Connect position to range width

When fewer players remain to act, there are fewer opportunities for someone to hold a strong hand. That is one reason unopened late-position ranges can be wider than early-position ranges. Tournament stack depth and payout pressure can narrow or widen those ranges further.

Last updated: August 26, 2026 · Publisher: Double Up Poker