What does UTG (under the gun) mean in poker?
UTG, "under the gun", is the first seat to act preflop — immediately left of the big blind. With the whole table still to act behind, it has the tightest opening range at the table.
Why it matters
Opening from UTG means five players can still wake up with a hand, and you'll usually be out of position postflop. That's why UTG ranges are built from pairs, suited aces and broadways only — hands that are strong enough to play from behind.
The most common early-position leak is opening hands that are fine from the button — K9o, QTo, J8s — and then paying to play them out of position.
The numbers
- UTG opens 24.1% of hands in HoldemPro's 6-max 100bb chart, versus 53.2% from the button.
- Facing an UTG open, the big blind 3-bets only 3.1% and calls 10.4% — an UTG range is too strong to attack lightly.
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.
You play 35%+ of hands, including weak offsuit hands out of position. Lots of trouble spots postflop.
Common questions
What hands should you open UTG in 6-max?
Pairs, suited aces, suited broadways down to about KTs/QTs/JTs, the best suited connectors, and the offsuit broadways AKo–ATo, KQo–KJo. That's roughly 24% of hands.
Is UTG the worst position in poker?
Preflop, yes — it acts first with everyone behind. Postflop the small blind is worse, because it acts first on every street against the whole field.
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