Where you sit relative to the dealer button, determining when you act in each betting round.
Position is one of the most important concepts in poker. Players who act later in a betting round have a significant advantage because they can see what opponents do before making their own decision.
The button (dealer position) is the best seat because you act last on every post-flop street. Early position (under the gun) is the worst because you have to act first with no information about what others will do.
Professional players adjust their starting hand requirements based on position. You can play a wider range of hands from late position because you have more information. From early position, you should only play premium hands.
At a $2/$5 no-limit table at the Commerce Casino, you hold A♣J♣ on the button. Four players limp in front. You raise to $35, blinds fold, two limpers call. On every postflop street, you act last — you see every check, bet, and raise before deciding.
Position is worth roughly 2-3 big blinds per hand in measurable win rate. Button win rates in online tracking databases run +10 bb/100, while under-the-gun win rates average -8 bb/100 for the same player. Acting last lets you bluff more cheaply, value-bet thinner, and control pot size on marginal hands. Professional cash game players open 40-45% of hands on the button but under 15% UTG — the only hand that matters more than your cards is where you sit.
<p>At a $2/$5 no-limit table at the Commerce Casino, you hold <strong>A♣J♣</strong> on the button. Four players limp in front. You raise to $35, blinds fold, two limpers call. On every postflop street, you act <strong>last</strong> — you see every check, bet, and raise before deciding.</p><p>Position is worth roughly <strong>2-3 big blinds per hand</strong> in measurable win rate. Button win rates in online tracking databases run <strong>+10 bb/100</strong>, while under-the-gun win rates average <strong>-8 bb/100</strong> for the same player. Acting last lets you bluff more cheaply, value-bet thinner, and control pot size on marginal hands. Professional cash game players open 40-45% of hands on the button but under 15% UTG — the only hand that matters more than your cards is where you sit.</p>
Forced bets posted by the two players to the left of the dealer button before cards are dealt.
A bet on the flop by the pre-flop raiser, regardless of whether the flop improved their hand.
Betting or raising with a weak hand to try to make opponents fold better hands.
Where you sit relative to the dealer button, determining when you act in each betting round.
<p>At a $2/$5 no-limit table at the Commerce Casino, you hold <strong>A♣J♣</strong> on the button. Four players limp in front. You raise to $35, blinds fold, two limpers call. On every postflop street, you act <strong>last</strong> — you see every check, bet, and raise before deciding.</p><p>Position is worth roughly <strong>2-3 big blinds per hand</strong> in measurable win rate. Button win rates in online tracking databases run <strong>+10 bb/100</strong>, while under-the-gun win rates average <strong>-8 bb/100</strong> for the same player. Acting last lets you bluff more cheaply, value-bet thinner, and control pot size on marginal hands. Professional cash game players open 40-45% of hands on the button but under 15% UTG — the only hand that matters more than your cards is where you sit.</p>
Top-rated platforms reviewed by our editorial team.