Position in Poker: A Complete Guide for Beginners

Position in poker is one of the main factors affecting the outcome. Where you sit at the table determines how much information you receive and which hands you should play for profitable gaming. 

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

In poker, the position refers to the player's seat at the table relative to the dealer's chip, commonly known as the button* in the poker world. 

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

The position determines the order in which players act on the pre-flop and post-flop. Simply put, position is the order of decision making.

The player on the SB (Small Blind) always starts the betting in a hand by putting money into the pot. The player on the BB (Big Blind) posts a blind (1 bb), and the one on the SB puts in half the blind (0.5 bb). 

The player on the BTN (Button) closes the betting and is always in position relative to every other player at the table.  

Position plays a key role in deciding whether to play a hand. It is not only the turn order but also the main factor that changes the value of your cards, evaluates the strength of your range, and the overall plan for the hand.

Why position is so important

Playing in position provides a strategic advantage that directly influences your win rate*. Over time, the ability to use position is what distinguishes a strong player from a weaker one.

Win rate is the average amount of profit a player earns over a certain number of hands or tournaments. This indicator demonstrates how effectively a player is earning over a distance.

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

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

2. Easier to realise equity*. Playing in position, you better realise 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, limit the pot size to avoid it becoming too expensive
— With weak hands, save chips and reach a showdown cheaper

* Equity is the probability of your hand winning the pot at the time of the deal 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 don't know how strong their hand is relative to the opponent's range. They are forced to play more cautiously and are under pressure. 

That means your bluffs in position become safer and more profitable because you have full control over the situation.

Main position groups

For example, let's consider 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 characteristics of ranges, we will provide poker charts for visualisation. How to read and use them in training is explained in this article.

1. Early positions (UTG, UTG+1)

Alternative name: Early Position (EP).

Range of opening from UTG

Range of opening from UTG +1

What should be considered when opening?
— Many opponents behind you. After your move, a large number of players remain, and the likelihood of facing resistance is higher.
— Open tighter*. This will minimise the risk of encountering strong opponent ranges.
— Opening range of about 10–15% of all hands. These are mostly premium hands, strong broadways, high suited connectors, and medium-strength pocket pairs.  

Tight* is a style of play in poker where the player plays a limited number of starting hands, choosing mainly strong combinations and avoiding marginal situations.

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

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

What should be considered when opening?
— The range can be expanded to 18–22% of all hands. Here, medium suited connectors and pocket pairs down to 44 are added.
— Fewer players behind = more aggression on our part. From these positions, the percentage of raises should be increased because the risk of encountering a premium hand from opponents is lower than when opening from early positions. 

Middle positions allow a balance 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 be considered when opening?
— These positions show the highest win rate over time. Only the blinds are left behind you, offering maximum advantage.
— Open widely — from 35% to 55% of all hands.
— Button is the best position in poker. By acting last on the post-flop, you control the pot and gain the maximum information.

How position changes the value of a hand

Not all hands are equally valuable in different positions. Their strength directly depends on how many players remain behind you and the information you have about opponents' actions. Initially, it's important to remember: 

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

Let's give a visual example with hand ATo. 

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

When opening from the BTN, ATo is quite a strong hand, closer to the top of the range comparing to the weakest hands (J2s, T3s, T7o).

Beginner mistakes in understanding positions

Beginners frequently misunderstand the power of position and consequently lose a lot of chips. What do we often encounter at the tables? 

— Same ranges for 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 hand strength. A player considers a hand strong but forgets about the context of the position and the course of the hand. Conditional A (hearts) and A (diamonds) on a QJ9 (all spades) flop do not have the same strength as on the pre-flop.
— Ignoring post-flop context. Beginners fail to understand the advantage of position and play the same strategy across all hand types. 

If you want to know more about the topic and avoid these mistakes, apply to FirstFund, and we'll teach you: 

— How to correctly choose the opening range for each position
— How to use post-flop advantage: control the pot, realise equity, and effectively bluff
— How to adapt your strategy depending on opponents' styles and tournament type.

Thank you for reading the article to the end. We look forward to welcoming you to our team.