26 Oct 2024 Beginner This material is for beginner players BB BTN CO position SB In poker, position is a critical concept. Beginners might find it confusing at first, but by reading this article, you’ll learn the basics of poker positions. Basic Positions in Poker In poker, positions are generally divided into four categories: Blinds Early Positions (EP) Middle Positions (MP) Late Positions (LP) Here, we’ll discuss these positions as they appear in a typical 9-player table (full-ring). Blinds The blinds are the players who must place mandatory bets pre-flop. These are the two players to the immediate left of the dealer (button). SB (Small Blind) SB sits immediately to the left of the dealer. The player in the SB must post 0.5bb before the cards are dealt. Pre-flop, SB acts after the dealer, but post-flop, he acts first. SB is considered the worst position because of its information disadvantages. In heads-up (HU) play, the SB is also the button, meaning they act first pre-flop and last post-flop. BB (Big Blind) The BB is to the left of the SB. The BB must post the full big blind before the cards are dealt. Pre-flop, the BB acts last, which often means they see the flop more frequently, but post-flop, they act after the SB. Early Positions (EP) After the blinds, we have the early positions. Players in these positions act first pre-flop and immediately after the blinds post-flop. As a result, they need to play tighter and stronger hands. UTG (Under the Gun) UTG is the first position to the left of the BB. The player in UTG is the first to act pre-flop, meaning they have the least information about other players’ hands. The name 'Under the Gun' reflects the pressure of being first to act without knowing what the other players will do. Strong hands are usually required to play from this position. UTG+1 This is the seat to the left of UTG. The '+1' indicates it is one seat away from UTG. Players in UTG+1 also need strong hands, but they have a slightly better position than UTG. Middle Positions (MP) Middle positions act after the early positions but before the late positions. They have more information than the early positions but are still vulnerable to action from players behind them. MP MP is the seat to the left of UTG+1. It is not the worst position, but it’s still not ideal because other players can act after you. In MP, players can play a wider range of hands than in early positions, but they still need to be cautious. MP+1 MP+1 is to the left of MP. Players here can also play a bit more loosely, similar to the MP position. Late Positions (LP) Late positions act last, meaning they have the most information about how other players have acted. These positions are the most advantageous. HJ (Hijack) HJ is the seat to the left of MP+1. This position is considered strong because of it is near the end of the action. CO (Cutoff) CO is the seat to the left of HJ and just before the dealer button. It is the second-best position in poker, offering great strategic advantages. BTN (Button) BTN is the dealer position, and it is the most favorable position in poker. The player on the button acts last in all betting rounds post-flop, giving them the most information to base their decisions on. 6-Max and Heads-Up Positions 6-Max Table In a 6-player table (6-max), there are fewer positions, but the concept remains the same. The fewer the players behind you, the wider the range of hands you can play from each position. Heads-Up (HU) Heads-up refers to a 2-player game. In heads-up poker, one player is the SB and also the BTN, while the other is the BB. The SB acts first pre-flop but last post-flop. How to Play Based on Position Position is one of the most important aspects of poker strategy. It directly influences how you should approach each hand. Tight Play in Early Positions Players in early positions must act with caution. Since they have no information about the actions of players behind them, they should only enter the pot with strong hands (about 14-16% of hands). By comparison, on the button (BTN), you can play three times more hands (around 40-45%). Playing weak hands from an early position can lead to difficult situations, especially when players in later positions raise or call. So, EP-MP players should keep their ranges tight. Understanding OOP and IP OOP (Out of Position) refers to players who must act first, which puts them at a disadvantage. IP (In Position) refers to players who act later, which gives them an advantage. When you're OOP, you should play fewer hands and be more cautious. When you're IP, you can play more hands and take advantage of the information provided by the players acting before you. Conclusion Position is a key factor in poker. Always be aware of your position at the table and adjust your strategy accordingly to maximize your winnings.
