What is the button in poker?
The button (BTN) is the dealer position, marked by a physical or on-screen disc. It acts last on every postflop street, which makes it the most profitable seat at the table and the one that opens the widest range.
Why it matters
Acting last is worth money on every street: you can check behind to see a free card, bet when the blinds check to you, and value-bet thinner because you'll never face a raise you didn't see coming. Over a session the button wins more than any other seat, and the small blind loses the most.
The button also defends differently. Against an earlier open it can flat-call a wide range because it will be in position for the whole hand — something the blinds can't afford.
The numbers
- The button opens 53.2% of hands in HoldemPro's 6-max chart — the widest first-in range at the table.
- Facing a button open, the big blind 3-bets 6.2% and calls 35.6%; the small blind 3-bets 11.8% and calls only 8.0%.
Figures come from the same preflop charts and research data the rest of the site uses (charts last updated July 5, 2026); they change when that data does.
Every open-raise and defense range by position, 6-max 100bb, with the frequencies below.
Common questions
How many hands should you open from the button?
About 53% at 100bb in 6-max — every pair, every suited ace, most suited kings and queens, most suited connectors and gappers, and offsuit hands down to about A2o, K7o, Q8o, J8o, T8o.
Why does the button win the most money?
Because it has position on the whole table postflop and only two players (the blinds) to get through preflop. Position turns marginal hands into profitable ones.
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