In position (IP)
- You act after your opponent on each street.
- You see their action first and can control pot size.
- You can take free cards (check back) or put pressure with bets.
Position
Position in Poker – Why Acting Last Wins
Position means when you act in a hand. If you act after your opponents (you are in position), you see what they do first. This extra info helps you make better choices, control the pot, and win more chips. Easy idea, big results.
New to poker? Start with What is Poker? and Texas Hold’em Rules. For hand order see Hand Ranks.
What is position?
Position is your turn order relative to the dealer button. The button moves one seat left every hand. Preflop, action starts left of the big blind (UTG). After the flop, the first player left of the button acts first, and the button acts last.
Simple idea: the later you act, the more information you have. More info → better decisions → more profit.
Seats at a 6–9-handed table
Names vary by table size. Think in groups: Early (EP), Middle (MP), Cutoff (CO), Button (BTN), Small Blind (SB), Big Blind (BB). Button is the best seat.
In position vs out of position
Out of position (OOP)
- You act first. Less info, tougher spots.
- Hands need to be stronger to play profitably.
- Bluff less, value bet more carefully.
Preflop plan by position (easy and solid)
Early Position (EP)
- Open strong hands only: big pairs, AK/AQ, KQ suited.
- Fold weak offsuit aces and broadways (dominated often).
Middle Position (MP)
- Add medium pairs (TT–77), suited broadways, some suited aces.
- Still avoid weak offsuit hands vs raises.
Cutoff (CO)
- Open wider: more suited connectors, more Axs.
- Attack tight blinds, steal often.
Button (BTN)
- Open the widest. You act last → biggest edge.
- Use smaller opens (≈2.2–2.5×) and play more hands.
Small Blind (SB)
- Be careful: you are OOP postflop vs BB.
- Open for value; mix some suited aces & broadways. Don’t over-open junk.
Big Blind (BB)
- Defend vs steals with discounts (you already posted 1BB).
- Prefer suited & connected hands. Fold dominated trash.
Need a full range starter? See Starting Hands (Hold’em).
Postflop: why acting last is powerful
Control pot size
In position you can check back with medium hands to keep the pot small, or bet to grow the pot with strong hands.
See their plan first
If they check, you can bet and take it. If they bet small, you can call with good odds. If they bet big, you can fold weak hands and save chips.
More profitable bluffs
Bluffs work better when you act last because you know if they showed weakness (checks) before you bet.
Value with confidence
Value-bet more often in position—opponents call lighter vs late position aggression.
Steal & defend the blinds
Steal from CO/BTN
- Open wider when blinds are tight/passive.
- Use smaller size (≈2.2–2.5×) to risk less and keep your edge.
- Fold weak hands if blinds 3-bet often—pick better spots.
Defend in BB
- Call more vs small open sizes, especially with suited/connected hands.
- 3-bet value hands vs loose stealers.
- Out of position postflop → avoid trash that will bleed chips.
3-bets by position (simple plan)
Value 3-bets
- All positions: QQ+, AK.
- Late vs late opens: add JJ, AQs, KQs.
- Sizes: in position ≈ 3× the open; out of position ≈ 3.5–4×.
Light 3-bets (starter)
- CO/BTN vs CO/BTN opens: A5s–A2s, KJs, QJs.
- Fold to strong 4-bets. Keep it simple while learning.
Calls instead of 3-bets
- Small/medium pairs in position (set-mine with deep stacks).
- Suited connectors/broadways vs late opens.
More preflop help: Preflop Basics · Bet Sizes.
Heads-up vs multi-way pots
Heads-up (HU)
- Top pair good kicker is strong.
- C-bet small (≈½ pot) on many boards, especially in position.
Multi-way
- Bluff less. Prefer hands that make sets and nut draws.
- Top pair weak kicker loses value. Be careful OOP.
Common mistakes (avoid these)
- Playing too many hands in early position.
- Calling raises out of position with weak hands.
- Using the same open size from every seat (change size on BTN/CO).
- Bluffing big while OOP with no equity.
- Ignoring the button’s power—open too tight there.
Quick rules (remember these)
- Play tighter early, wider late.
- Prefer playing pots in position.
- Use smaller opens on the button.
- In BB, defend more vs small opens; fold trash vs large opens.
- Out of position: value-bet thinner, bluff less.
Tiny cheat sheet
Best seats
BTN > CO > Blinds > EP
Open sizes
EP–CO: 2.5–3× · BTN: 2.2–2.5×
3-bet sizes
IP: 3× · OOP: 3.5–4×
Learn next
Position — FAQ
What does “in position” mean?
You act after your opponent on each street. You see their action first, so you can make better decisions.
Which seat is best?
The button. You act last postflop and control the pot most often.
Why play tighter in early position?
You act first after the flop and have less information. Tight ranges protect you from dominated hands.
How should I change my open size by position?
EP–CO: about 2.5–3×. On BTN: slightly smaller (2.2–2.5×). Add +1× per limper.
What changes in the blinds?
SB is tough (OOP postflop). BB has a discount to call but still plays OOP; defend with suited/connected hands and fold trash to big sizes.
Starting Hands
Open ranges and simple rules.
Preflop Basics
Tight-aggressive plan & sizes.
Bet Sizes
½–⅔ pot made simple.
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