UNDER THE GUN+1 (UTG1)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis player sits directly to the left of UTG<\/strong> and faces similar pressure as UTG<\/strong> due to the early position.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPoker<\/strong> Under the Gun+1 Strategy:<\/strong> Play tight and lean towards folding. Aim to play only the top 10-15%<\/strong> of hands, folding all others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nMIDDLE POSITION (MP), LOJAK (LJ), HIJACK (HJ)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nPositions from MIDDLE POSITION<\/strong> through HIJACK<\/strong> are played similarly in poker.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMiddle Position – Hijack Strategy:<\/strong> You can play approximately 20-25%<\/strong> of hands from these seats. Middle table positioning can be challenging due to being sandwiched between players, making it hard to extract value when you hit a hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\nFor instance, if you bet after the first player checks on the river and another player is yet to act, it becomes obvious you likely have a strong hand like a straight or flush. To counter this, some advanced players choose to re-raise from these positions to encourage folds from players behind and avoid being trapped between opponents or \u201cstuck in the middle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CUT-OFF (CO)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe CUT-OFF (CO)<\/strong> is the seat just before the button, making it the second best of the positions around a poker table. <\/p>\n\n\n\nCut-Off Strategy: <\/strong>Unlike earlier positions where folding is often the safest choice, in the CO<\/strong> you should lean towards raising if no one has raised before you. There are only three players left to act after you, making it less likely one of them has a very strong hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\nCompare this to the UTG<\/strong> player who has to worry about eight people potentially waking up with a premium holding. In the CO<\/strong>, you can, and should, raise liberally.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBUTTON (BU)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe BUTTON (BU) is the best position in poker, marked by a circular button-shaped object.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Button Strategy: <\/strong>If no one has raised before you, feel free to raise with approximately 50%<\/strong> of your hands (some players even raise more than 60%<\/strong> of their dealt hands in this scenario!). Players are more likely to re-raise (three-bet) from the button because they know they will have positional advantage throughout the hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\nNot only do you face fewer opponents behind you, but you also maintain position over them throughout the hand, as the SMALL BLIND<\/strong> and BIG BLIND<\/strong> act before the button post-flop. Your positional control continues. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIn addition to encountering fewer threats, you generally have opportunities for larger payouts when on the BUTTON<\/strong> because you can dictate bet sizes when other players check to you. These are some of the standout reasons why it\u2019s the best position in poker.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to Remember Poker Position Names<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The poker position names have more logic than some people may think. For instance, blinds are named as such because players place these bets without seeing their cards, essentially betting blind. Similarly, in poker UNDER THE GUN<\/strong> seems to have got its name because of the high risk of making mistakes from that position.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMy favorite of the poker position names \u2014 and a great tool for having the poker positions explained \u2014 is the series of HJ<\/strong>, CO<\/strong>, and BU<\/strong>. Many people are not aware that these poker position names are sequential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nThe BUTTON<\/strong> typically raises.<\/li>\n\n\n\nThe CUT-OFF<\/strong>, knowing this, acts before them and raises first, CUTTING THEM OFF<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\nThe HIJACK<\/strong>, also aware of the plan, HIJACKS<\/strong> their move and raises ahead of them!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s a playful way to remember these poker position names while also teaching an important lesson about strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nImage Credit: Kitreel\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat is The Best Position in Poker?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nA simpler way of looking at the positions around a poker table is they are ranked in reverse order. Here they are from the worst to the best<\/strong> position in poker:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nSMALL BLIND (SB)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\nBIG BLIND (BB)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\nUNDER THE GUN (UTG)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\nUNDER THE GUN + 1 (UTG+1)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\nMIDDLE POSITION (MP)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\nLOJACK (LJ)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\nHIJACK (HJ)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\nCUT-OFF (CO)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\nBUTTON (BU)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nAgain the emphasis falls on the BUTTON<\/strong>. It\u2019s an extremely profitable table position both due to reduced threats from players behind them and the ability to get paid off greater amounts. This makes it, arguably, the best of the positions around a poker table.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRemember that when everyone checks to you while you’re on the BUTTON<\/strong>, you have the advantage of choosing the bet size. The same logic applies if someone bets before you and you decide to raise \u2014 you have the advantage of acting after them, allowing you to control the betting amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow To Group Poker Table Positions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nPlainly speaking, hearing terms like LOJACK<\/strong> and HIJACK<\/strong> at a poker table is quite rare. Usually players group the poker position names into three general terms: EARLY POSITION<\/strong>, MIDDLE POSITION<\/strong>, and LATE POSITION<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStrategically this makes things easier. Play tight in EARLY POSITION<\/strong>, standard in MIDDLE POSITION<\/strong>, and loose in LATE POSITION<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are not hard lines, some are borderline or debatable, but this is how they\u2019re organized:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Early Poker Position<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nSMALL BLIND (SB)<\/li>\n\n\n\n BIG BLIND (BB)<\/li>\n\n\n\n UNDER THE GUN (UTG)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nMiddle Poker Position<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nUNDER THE GUN + 1 (UTG+1)<\/li>\n\n\n\n MIDDLE POSITION (MP)<\/li>\n\n\n\n LOJACK (LJ)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nLate Poker Position<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nHIJACK (HJ)<\/li>\n\n\n\n CUT-OFF (CO)<\/li>\n\n\n\n BUTTON (BU)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nImage Credit: Rawpixel\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy Is Poker Positioning So Important?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nInstead of focusing on the advantages of being \u2018in position,\u2019 it\u2019s crucial to understand the drawbacks of being \u2018out of position\u2019 in poker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Playing out of position poker puts you at a disadvantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you\u2019re out of position, you lack the advantage of seeing your opponents’ actions first, leading to more uncertainty and guesswork. You’re playing with incomplete information about your opponents’ hands and intentions, while they have a clearer picture of your actions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do your opponents love their hand? Hate it? It\u2019s more unclear \u2014 you\u2019re playing poker with less information. But they have that information on YOU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If You’re Out of Position You Have Less Control<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe bigger issue of being out of position in poker is the loss of control. <\/strong>You can’t easily check back or take advantage of betting when opponents check to you, which affects your ability to dictate the pace and size of the pot.<\/p>\n\n\n\nControlling bet sizes may sound trivial \u2014 but is actually critical. Not every hand can be a winner in poker. You must ensure that your wins compensate for the hands you lose, which requires maximizing your profits with strong hands.<\/strong> If you’re not getting sufficient value from your good hands, you\u2019ll go broke with your weak hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA true measure of an expert player isn’t just winning, but winning by a significant margin. Playing out of position poker makes achieving these high win rates nearly impossible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because it strips away control. The BUTTON<\/strong> is revered as the best position in poker because it puts you firmly in control of the action.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPoker Table Positions FAQ<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTo make sure you have a complete understanding of the various poker positions and their importance, here are some of the most common questions about poker table positioning and the answer you need:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is Position in Poker?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nPosition in poker refers to where a player sits in relation to the dealer button. It is a major strategic factor in poker games as it affects the order in which players act during hands. The later you have to act in a round of betting, the more information you have about your opponents’ actions, making it a more advantageous position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is Out of Position in Poker?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIn poker, being “out of position” means that you have to act before your opponent during a betting round. This is typically a disadvantage as you have to make your decisions with less information about your opponent’s hand compared to if you were in position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is Under the Gun in Poker?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n“Under the gun” is a term in poker that refers to the player who must act first in a betting round. This position is immediately to the left of the big blind in games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha. Being under the gun is considered challenging as it requires a player to act without any knowledge of how others might play their hands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is The Hijack Position in Poker?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe hijack position in poker is the place two seats to the right of the dealer button, or one seat to the right of the ‘cut-off.’ It’s called the hijack because this position often ‘hijacks’ the advantageous late positions of the cut-off and the button by making a raise, thus putting pressure on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n