Understand Different Poker Positions

Poker is a game based on information and poker hand chart; the poker positions determine the amount of information a player has, to make a decision. Every beginner learning how to play poker, significantly undervalues the position. Your table position is often the difference between winning and losing a hand.

Before playing a hand in Texas Hold'em, one of the most played poker variations, you should always know your position relative to the dealer button. Take a look at your position before you look at your cards. The seats nearest to the button are called early position, or EP for short. The seats nearest to the button's right are called late position or LP for short. The seats in between these will be called middle position or MP. Poker positions refer to the seat a player occupies at the table, which determines the order they act in each betting round. Acting last is advantageous (in position), while acting first is not (out of position). 

Different Poker Seat Positions

1. Early Positions

Early positions in live or online poker are not very favorable because they are the players who will have to act first after the flop. You want to avoid playing weak cards from these poker seat positions. You're relying on your cards to help you win the pot, as being the first to act throughout the hand gives you fewer opportunities to outplay your opponents. Playing too many hands from early positions will often make you lose money.

2. Middle Positions

Middle Positions are better than Early Positions but are not as favorable as Later Positions. You can afford to play a few more hands from MP than you would from EP, as fewer players can call and act after you from the flop onwards.

3. Late Positions

Late Positions is the best position in poker and is highly advantageous. There is a high chance that you will be last (or one of the last) to act on each round. It means you have the most information available on the table about the other players' actions. You can play much more hands compared to EP or MP in late positions. The later your position on the table, the more information you have in the given hand.

Note: "Having position/Being in position" means you are the last person to act in the scenario.

It is always more favorable to be in position than out of position. You will know more about it upon further studies and playing experience.

4. The Button

The button is the best seat in the poker position chart because you will be the last to act on every betting round (except for pre-flop). According to poker experts, one should play as many hands as possible from the button. 

5. The Cut Off

The 'cut-off' is the position just before the button. It is the second-best seat in Texas Hold'em because if the button folds, you will be the last to act on each hand. The button and cut-off are advantageous positions for stealing the blinds as there are fewer players to act behind you, making it less likely that they are holding a good enough hand to call a raise with.

How to Use Table Position in Poker?

If you have a position over another player, it means that you are acting after them in each round. It means they will give you information before you make your decision.

• They could check – possibly a sign of weakness.
• They could bet – possibly a sign of strength.
• If they bet, the size of their bet could mean something.
• The time it takes for them to make their decision may also give you extra clues.

For example, if you have a position over your opponent and they check quickly, this could be a sign of weakness. You could use this information to bet out and take the pot. It's not always this easy, but getting some information is infinitely better than being the one giving information to your opponent.

How Positions Come in Handy in a Hand?

Let's assume we are on the flop with a few players in hand, and you hold a mediocre hand like a small two pairs. If there's a lot of betting and raising before the action gets to you, you can be sure that your hand isn't the best, and you can happily fold without losing any more money.

On the other hand, if you are in an early position, you may bet out with a decent hand, only to find that there are much stronger hands out there that will re-raise you and force you to fold. Therefore, you will have lost chips due to a lack of information. The later you act in a hand, the more information you will have about your opponents.

Must Read: How to Calculate Poker Odds

Positional Awareness

You generally want to play more hands in position than you do out of position. It doesn't mean that you play any hand when you have a good position. Instead, be more inclined to play more hands when in position, but don't play this wide range of hands when Out Of Position.

Consider your position as something other than dictating which hands you can and can't play. Instead, think of it as taking advantage of being last to act as often as possible.

Poker Positions FAQs

What are the positions on a poker table?
There are three positions on a poker table: Early Position (EP), Middle Position (MP) and Late Position (LP).

What are the positions at a 6 man poker table?
At a 6-man poker table, the positions are: Button (BTN), Small Blind (SB), Big Blind (BB), Under The Gun (UTG), Middle Position (MP) and Cutoff (CO).

What is the position order in poker?
The position order in poker is: first Late Position (LP), then Middle Position (MP) and last is Early Position (EP).

What is the 9 seat position in poker?
Under The Gun (UTG), Under The Gun + 1 (UTG+1), Under The Gun + 2 (UTG+2), The Lojack, The Cut Off, The Hijack, The Button, The Small Blind, The Big Blind

What is the strongest position in poker?
The strongest position in poker is the Button (BTN) position, also known as the Dealer position. They act last in each betting round after the flop, giving them the advantage of having the most information before making their decisions.