# Poker Positions and Table Order
Poker table positions are one of the foundational concepts for Texas Hold’em. The seating order determines when you act in each betting round, and your position heavily shapes which hands you can profitably play. Positions are named relative to the dealer button.
The Dealer Button (BTN)
The dealer button is a marker showing the nominal dealer. Even though the house handles the cards in casinos, the button defines the play order.
- The player **on the button acts last** on the flop, turn, and river.
- This is the most advantageous seat at the table, because you see everyone else’s action before making your decision.
- After every hand, the button moves clockwise to the next player.
Blinds: Small Blind (SB) and Big Blind (BB)
These two seats are immediately to the button’s left. They post forced bets before seeing their cards.
1. **Small Blind (SB)**
First seat left of the button. Posts the smaller mandatory blind bet. Acts first after the flop. This is a weak position.
2. **Big Blind (BB)**
Next seat left of the small blind. Posts a bet double the small blind. On the preflop round, the big blind gets the final option to raise, call, or fold before the flop. After the flop, the BB acts first.
> Preflop action starts to the left of the big blind. Postflop action always starts with the small blind.
Early Position (EP)
Early position players are the seats after the big blind, far from the button.
- They must act first before the flop, with no information from other players.
- Tight play is required: only strong starting hands.
At a full 9 or 10-handed table, EP usually includes Under the Gun (UTG) and UTG+1.
- **UTG (Under the Gun):** First player to act preflop. This is the worst position.
- UTG+1: The next player clockwise from UTG.
Middle Position (MP)
Middle positions sit between early position and late position.
Players here act after UTG but before the cutoff and button. They have slightly more information than EP but still need to be selective.
Common labels: MP, MP+1. You can play a wider range than early position but not as loose as late position.
Late Position (LP)
Late position is the best group of seats, right before the button.
- **Cutoff (CO):** Seat directly to the button’s right. Second-best position. If the button folds, the cutoff becomes the last to act.
- **Button (BTN):** The strongest seat overall.
Standard Table Order (10-handed full ring, clockwise starting left of BTN)
BTN → SB → BB → UTG → UTG+1 → MP → MP+1 → CO → BTN
Preflop action order: UTG → UTG+1 → MP → MP+1 → CO → BTN → SB → BB
6-handed shorthand table (very common online):
BTN → SB → BB → UTG → MP → CO → BTN
How Position Changes Strategy
- **Late position (CO, BTN):** You can play many more hands, steal blinds, and bluff more often.
- **Early position (UTG):** Stick to premium hands like big pairs and strong high cards. Bluffing from UTG is risky.
- **Blinds:** You already have money in the pot, so you can call wider, but you will act first on all later streets.
Common Situations
### Situation 1: Everyone folds to the button
The button has an easy chance to raise and try to steal the small and big blind bets. This is called a blind steal.
### Situation 2: You are in the big blind and face a raise
You have the option to call, re-raise, or fold. Since you are last to act preflop, this is your best decision point for the round.
### Situation 3: Multi-way pot with players in early position
When multiple players call preflop, late position advantages are still useful, but bluffing becomes less effective because there are more opponents.
Common Mistakes
❌ Playing weak hands from Under the Gun
❌ Confusing the action order: postflop starts with SB, not UTG
❌ Overvaluing hands in the blinds just because you posted money
❌ Forgetting the button moves clockwise every hand
Quick Cheat Sheet
✅ Best position: Button (BTN) – last to act postflop
✅ Second best: Cutoff (CO)
✅ Worst position: UTG (Under the Gun)
✅ Blinds: SB and BB; forced preflop bets
✅ Preflop: action starts left of BB
✅ Postflop: action starts with SB
✅ Rule of thumb: The later your position, the more hands you can play