Poker Positions

While the relative position can change throughout the hand, the absolute position stays the same once the hand is dealt. Let’s take a look at the absolute positions at a 9-handed poker table:

UTG (UNDER THE GUN)

UTG, or Under the Gun, is the player seated directly to the left of the big blind and is the first to act preflop. It’s one of the worst positions at the table, as you have eight other players left to act behind you. This means you should play conservatively, as the chances are high that someone acting after you has a strong hand.

UTG +1

This is the position directly to the left of the UTG player and is the second to act preflop. This position plays similarly to UTG, as these are the two earliest positions you can get at the poker table. You can play a couple more hands from UTG+1, but you still need to play tight.

MP (MIDDLE POSITION)

Not actually the middle of the table, middle position refers to being in between early position and late position. Some players refer to this seat as UTG+2 and use middle position as a term to encompass this position and the LoJack. Again, this is a position where playing tight is right.

LJ (LOJACK)

Even though we’re starting to get closer to the button, the Lojack (LJ) sits in that awkward in-between spot–it’s too far around the table to be in early position, but it isn’t in late position, either. Some people use this position interchangeably with middle position, which can confuse new players! While you still need to be relatively tight from this position, you can afford to play more hands than you would UTG.

HJ (HIJACK)

So-called as you’re hijacking the chance for the players in the cutoff and button to steal the blinds. The hijack is where players will start to open up their ranges more. While some nittier players will still call this middle position, more aggressive players consider it late position. How aggressive you are at the table will dictate how tight or loose your strategy is from this position.

CO (CUTOFF)

Before people started playing wider from the hijack, this used to be the “cutoff” where you’d begin to loosen your range. One seat to the right of the button, you’ll likely be in position post-flop, which means you can raise a wide range of hands. You should have one of your highest raise percentages from this position.

BTN (BUTTON)

The best seat at the table; when you’re on the button, you’re guaranteed to be in position post-flop, and if it’s folded to you, there are only two players you need to fold out to win the blinds. Therefore, you should be playing your widest range from the button, raising at least 50% of your hands when it folds to you. The button is where you’ll have your highest win rate as a player, so it’s essential to play a lot of hands from this position.

SB (SMALL BLIND)

From the best to the worst, the small blind is arguably one of the worst poker positions at the table. You have to put in half a big blind before you see your cards, so you’re already fighting uphill in terms of win rate, plus you’re guaranteed to be out of position post-flop. You should play a tight but aggressive strategy when playing from the small blind, but if it folds to you, you should raise a wide range to attack the big blind.

BB (BIG BLIND)

The big blind is unique in that you’re the last to act preflop from this position and can win the pot immediately if everyone folds. You’ll often be calling raises rather than raising yourself, so it’s important to see where the raise comes from when considering your hand. The earlier position a player raises in, the tighter their hand will be and the tighter you should be in response.

6-Max vs. 9-Max Poker Positions

Most online poker games are played in two formats: 6-max (six players) and 9-max (nine players). The difference in player count affects the way positions are played and how aggressively you can approach each hand.

In 6-max games, fewer players mean fewer positions, which naturally encourages faster gameplay and broader hand ranges. Players are typically more aggressive in 6-max because the table dynamics allow for more open-raising and stealing opportunities.

In fact, what would be considered an early position at a 9-max table (like Under the Gun) becomes the effective starting position in 6-max. This change enables players to open up their ranges across all positions, knowing that there are fewer opponents left to act after them.

Key Takeaways:

• Broader Ranges: In 6-max, you can afford to play a wider range of hands from each position, especially as you move closer to the button.
• More Action: With fewer players, the pace of the game is faster, leading to more frequent betting, raising, and blind-stealing opportunities.
• Adaptable Strategy: While your approach to each position remains similar in both formats, the reduced player count in 6-max encourages a looser, more aggressive strategy overall.

By adapting to these differences, players can maximize their effectiveness in both 6-max and 9-max games without needing to memorize specific position names that change between formats.

Playing in position allows you to act last in each betting round, providing valuable information about your opponents’ actions before making your own decision. Here are the key benefits of playing in position:

While we’ve briefly touched upon them, here are the four generalized positions at the poker table:

• 1. Early Position
• 2. Middle Position
• 3. Late Position
• 4. The Blinds

Each encompasses two or three positions at the table, and players will use a particular preflop strategy depending on their position.

Word of warning: these positions are not set in stone; people often have different interpretations of early and middle positions, so don’t be surprised if you’re talking with a friend and they think these positions mean something slightly different!

So why should you change your preflop strategy depending on your position? It all comes down to why we raise in poker, to begin with.

THE BLINDS & Antes

Blinds and antes are mandatory bets that drive the action in poker, creating a pot to compete for in each hand. In typical poker games, two blinds are used—the small blind (SB) and the big blind (BB)—posted by the players directly to the left of the dealer button.

• The Small Blind: The player in the small blind posts a smaller, forced bet, which gives them partial equity in the pot but also puts them at a disadvantage since they must act first post-flop.
• The Big Blind: The big blind is typically twice the size of the small blind, and the player in this position often has to defend against raises, taking a more aggressive or flexible approach depending on the action.

In some games, an ante is also introduced, requiring each player to post a small bet before the hand starts. This extra money in the pot incentivizes players to open up their ranges and attempt to steal more frequently, especially in late position. Some casinos also use a big blind ante, where the big blind posts the ante for the entire table to streamline gameplay.

Together, blinds and antes increase the pot size before players see their cards, creating pressure to act and adding an element of strategy to each hand.

Understanding these forced bets is essential, as managing them effectively helps build a solid foundation for positional strategy and encourages a dynamic approach depending on table dynamics and position.

Commonly found in tournaments, an ante is a mandatory bet that each player must make in a hand. These are similar to the blinds but smaller in size and placed directly into the pot rather than in front of each player. In addition, some casinos have introduced a “big blind ante,” where the player in the big blind pays the ante for the whole table. Doing this speeds up the game, as you don’t have to wait for nine players to post an ante at the start of each hand.

DEAD MONEY

In poker, dead money refers to chips in the pot that no longer have a committed player attached to them. This often includes blinds, antes, and folds, which contribute to the pot without any player actively defending them. Dead money increases the incentive to make strategic moves, especially from later positions, where you have a greater chance to win the pot uncontested.

How Dead Money Influences Position-Based Strategy

The presence of dead money in the pot can greatly impact your decisions based on position:

• Late Position Advantage: In positions like the cutoff and button, you have more opportunities to capitalize on dead money by making steal attempts. With fewer players left to act, the chances of facing resistance are lower, making it profitable to attempt to take down the pot with a wider range of hands.
• Early Position Considerations: While dead money is still in the pot, playing aggressively from early positions is more challenging. With more players left to act, you face a higher risk of being called or raised, so dead money shouldn’t overly influence your range here. Focus instead on strong hands that can withstand opposition.
• Blinds and Dead Money: From the small and big blinds, your approach to dead money shifts. In these positions, you’re often defending against late-position steal attempts that aim to pick up dead money. Knowing this can help you defend more strategically, selectively calling or re-raising based on the raiser’s position and range.

Dead money increases the reward for timely aggression, particularly from late positions. By understanding how to adjust for dead money across various positions, you can leverage this factor to add profitable moves to your game.

The Straddle and Positional Strategy

In some poker games, players have the option to straddle—a voluntary blind bet, typically twice the size of the big blind, posted by the player to the left of the big blind. By placing a straddle, that player effectively creates a third blind, and they become the last to act pre-flop, which can impact the dynamics of position at the table.

How the Straddle Affects Strategy

The straddle introduces unique adjustments for all players:

• Straddling Player’s Advantage: By straddling, you gain the advantage of acting last pre-flop, which lets you see how the rest of the table acts before making your decision. However, posting a larger blind without seeing your cards is risky and should only be done when you’re comfortable navigating high-variance situations.
• Impact on Other Early Positions: For players to the left of the straddle, positions like UTG and UTG+1 now act first pre-flop. This shift often forces these players into a tighter, more cautious approach, as they must respond without full information.
• Adjusted Pot Odds and Raises: With a straddle in play, the pot grows pre-flop, increasing the incentive for players to enter the hand. However, raises must also be larger to stay competitive with the increased pot size. This creates an environment with more aggressive play, particularly in late positions where players can attempt to pick up the larger pot with wider ranges.

Strategic Adjustments for a Straddle

1. Playing Against a Straddle: If there’s a straddle, widen your range slightly to take advantage of the extra dead money. Players who straddle often have weaker holdings post-flop since they posted without seeing their cards, giving you an edge if you can play in position.
2. Straddling Effectively: If you choose to straddle, be prepared to play more aggressively to capitalize on your last-to-act advantage pre-flop. Use this opportunity to mix up your game and add pressure on opponents, especially if you’re comfortable handling larger pots.

The straddle adds variability and can lead to larger pots and more dynamic play. By understanding how it influences position and pot size, you can make strategic adjustments that capitalize on the changing dynamics.