Position in Poker: A Complete Guide for Beginners

The position in poker is one of the key factors influencing the outcome. Where you sit at the table determines how much information you will receive and which hands to play for a profitable game. 

In this article, we will explore the different positions and how to use them to your advantage.

The position in poker refers to a player's place at the table in relation to the dealer button. In the poker world, it is called the button.* 

* The button (Button, BTN) is the dealer's token, which moves clockwise after each hand. The player on the button always acts last after the flop, making this position the most profitable.

The order in which players act pre-flop and post-flop depends on their position. Simply put, the position is the turn to make decisions.

The player on the SB (Small Blind) always starts the betting in the hand by putting money in the pot. The player on BB (Big Blind) puts in the blind (1 bb), while on SB, it’s half a blind (0.5 bb). 

The player on BTN (Button) concludes the betting and is always in position relative to each player at the table.  

The position plays a key role in deciding whether to participate in a hand. It is not just about the turn to act, but the primary factor that alters the value of your cards, the evaluation of the strength of the range, and the overall hand plan.

Why the position is so important

Playing in position gives a strategic advantage that directly affects your win rate*. Over the long haul, the ability to utilize position distinguishes a strong player from a weak one.

The win rate is the average amount of profit a player makes over a certain number of hands or tournaments. This metric shows how effectively a player earns over the long haul.

1. You receive more information. By acting last, you see your opponents' actions and can better assess the strength of your hand. The later you make a decision, the more information you gather about your opponents' actions. 

In late positions, you can play more hands and implement your strategy more effectively, whereas in early positions, you should limit your range to only strong combinations.

2. Easier to realize equity*. Playing in position allows you to better realize your expectation because you control the size of the pot:

— With strong hands, you can increase it and win more chips
— With medium-strength hands, keep the pot size limited, avoiding making it too expensive
— With weak hands, save chips and get to the showdown cheaper

* Equity is the probability of your hand winning the pot at the moment of the hand or on a specific street. Also referred to as "expectation."

3. More chances to take the pot with a bluff. Players out of position always act first and often do not know how strong their hand is relative to their opponent's range. They are forced to play more cautiously and are under pressure. 

This means your bluffs in position are safer and more profitable because you have complete control over the situation.

Main groups of positions

For example, let's take a 9-max table. All positions are divided into early (EP or UTG), middle (MP), late (LP), and blinds.

In addition to describing the main features of the ranges, we will provide poker charts for visualization. How to read them and use them for learning we explained in this article.

*Leave a link to the article about poker charts*

1. Early positions (UTG, UTG+1)

Another name: Early Position (EP).

The opening range from UTG

The opening range from UTG +1

What should you consider when opening?
— A lot of opponents behind you. After your action, there are a large number of players left, which increases the likelihood of facing resistance.
— You should open tighter*. This will help minimize the risk of facing a strong opponent's range.
— The opening range is around 10–15% of all hands. Mostly premium hands, strong broadway cards, high suited connectors, and medium-strength pocket pairs.  

Tight* refers to a playing style in poker where a player plays a limited number of starting hands, mostly selecting strong combinations and avoiding marginal situations.

2. Middle positions (MP, MP+2, Lojack, Hijack)

The opening range from these positions can be expanded compared to UTG and UTG +1

What should you consider when opening?
— The range can be expanded to 18–22% of all hands. Here, medium suited connectors and pocket pairs up to 44 are added.
— Fewer players behind = more aggression from our side. This is where you should increase the percentage of raises since the risk of facing a premium hand from opponents is lower than when opening from early position. 

Middle positions allow balancing between tight play and aggression, gradually increasing the opening range without excessive risk.

3. Late positions (Cutoff, Button)

Cutoff (CO) and Button (BTN) are considered the most profitable positions in poker. 

What should you consider when opening?
— These positions show the highest win rate over the long haul. Only the blinds remain behind you, which provides maximum advantage.
— You should open widely—from 35% to 55% of all hands.
— The button is the best position in poker. Acting last on the post-flop, you control the pot and get maximum information.

How the position changes the value of the hand

Not all hands are equally valuable in different positions. Their strength directly depends on how many players are left behind you and what information you have received about your opponents' actions. To start, remember: 

The earlier your position, the stronger your hand should be. The later your position, the more hands you can profitably play.

We'll give a clear example with the hand ATo. 

The same hand has different strength. When opening from UTG, ATo is at the bottom of the range, literally one of the weakest hands in the range.

However, when opening from BTN, ATo is quite a strong hand, closer to the top of the range, compared to the weakest hands (J2s, T3s, T7o)

Beginner mistakes in understanding positions

Beginners often do not understand the strength of position and therefore lose many chips. What do we encounter most frequently at the tables? 

— Identical ranges in all positions. Beginners open the same hands from early position and from the button—this is a huge mistake. The example above shows why this will lead to losses.
— Incorrect assessment of the hand's strength. A player considers their hand strong but forgets about the context of position and the hand's progression. For instance, A (hearts) and A (diamonds) on the flop QJ9 (all spades) do not hold the strength they had pre-flop.
— Ignoring the context of the post-flop. Beginners do not orient themselves in the advantage of position and play the same strategies in all types of hands. 

If you want to delve deeper into the topic and avoid these mistakes, apply to FirstFund, and we will teach you: 

— How to correctly select the opening range for each position
— Use the advantage on the post-flop: control the pot, realize equity, and bluff effectively
— Adapt the strategy depending on the opponents' style and the type of tournament.

Thank you for reading the article to the end. We would be happy to see you in our team.