Position chart
Where you sit decides how many hands you can play. This page names the seats at a six-handed and a nine-handed table and gives a tight range to raise from each when nobody has entered the pot.
Six-handed table
| Seat | Acts | Raise first in with |
|---|---|---|
| Under the gun (UTG) | First to act before the flop | About 10% of hands: pairs from 6-6 up, A-T suited and better, K-J suited and better, Q-J suited, J-T suited, A-J offsuit and better, K-Q offsuit |
| Hijack (HJ) | Second to act | The same as under the gun |
| Cutoff (CO) | Third to act, one seat before the button | About 18%: pairs from 4-4 up, every suited ace, K-9 suited and better, Q-9 suited and better, J-9 suited and better, T-9 suited, 9-8 suited, A-T offsuit and better, K-J offsuit and better, Q-J offsuit |
| Button (BTN) | Last to act after the flop, on every street | About 31%: all pairs, every suited ace, K-5 suited and better, Q-8 suited and better, J-8 suited and better, T-8 suited and better, 9-7 suited and better, 8-6 suited and better, 7-5 suited and better, 6-5 suited, 5-4 suited, A-8 offsuit and better, K-9 offsuit and better, Q-9 offsuit and better, J-9 offsuit and better, T-9 offsuit |
| Small blind (SB) | Half a blind already in, first to act after the flop | When nobody has entered: the cutoff range, always as a raise. Facing a raise: fewer hands than the big blind, since you are out of position and the discount is smaller |
| Big blind (BB) | A full blind already in, last to act before the flop, second after it | When nobody has entered you see the flop for free. Facing a raise from the button you need to win a little more than one hand in four to break even on the call, so you defend wide and 3-bet the top |
Nine-handed table
| Seats | What they are | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Under the gun, UTG+1, UTG+2 | The three early seats | The under the gun range above, tightest in the first seat |
| Lojack and hijack | The two middle seats | Between the under the gun and the cutoff ranges |
| Cutoff, button | The two late seats | The cutoff and button ranges above |
| Small blind, big blind | The blinds | As at a six-handed table |
Why the ranges widen
Each seat closer to the button has fewer players left to act behind it, so a raise is less likely to run into a strong hand, and it is more likely to have position after the flop. The under the gun raise at a six-handed table has five players to get through; the button raise has two, and both of them will be out of position for the rest of the hand. That is why the button range is three times the size of the first seat's.
The ranges are the tight ones from the beginner strategy page, meant for a player who is learning. The hand strength calculator shows all 169 hands coloured by these seats. As you get to know a table, widen them in the late seats against players who fold too much, and keep them tight against players who do not.
Questions
Which position is best in poker?
The button. The player on the button acts last on every betting round after the flop, which means seeing what everyone else does before deciding. The worst seats are the blinds, which act first after the flop.
What is under the gun?
The seat to the left of the big blind, which acts first before the flop. It is the tightest seat because every other player is still to act behind you.
What does it mean to be in position?
To act after your opponent on each street after the flop. Against one player, whoever is closer to the button on their left is in position. The button is in position against everyone.
Should I play tighter at a nine-handed table?
From the early seats, yes. There are more players behind you, so the chance that someone holds a strong hand is higher. The late seats play about the same ranges as at a six-handed table.