What does position mean in poker, and why does it matter?
Position is where you act in the betting order relative to the other players. Acting last ("in position") means you see everyone else's decision before making yours; acting first ("out of position") means you decide with less information. Position is the single biggest structural edge in No-Limit Hold'em.
Why it matters
Every street, the player in position gets to react instead of guess: check back to control the pot, bet when the opponent shows weakness, or realize equity cheaply. That information advantage is why the same hand is worth more on the button than under the gun.
Ranges follow position. Charts open few hands from early seats because those hands will be played out of position against several opponents, and open very wide from the button because the button is in position against the blinds every time.
The numbers
- Open-raise ranges in HoldemPro's 6-max charts grow with position: UTG 24.1%, MP 30.9%, CO 38.1%, BTN 53.2%.
- Facing a raise, position changes the plan too: the button calls a cutoff open 19.1% of the time; the small blind, out of position, calls a button open only 8.0% and 3-bets 11.8%.
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
What are the positions in 6-max poker?
In order of action preflop: UTG (under the gun), MP (middle position, also called the lojack), CO (cutoff), BTN (button), SB (small blind), BB (big blind). Postflop the small blind acts first and the button acts last.
What is the best position in poker?
The button. It acts last on every postflop street, which is why it opens the widest range and steals the blinds most often.
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