Poker 101
Position is Everything
Why your seat at the table matters more than your cards.
What 'position' means
Position = where you sit relative to the dealer button. The button (BTN) rotates clockwise after each hand, and that's the best seat in poker — you act last on every postflop street, which means you have more information than everyone else when it's your turn.
The 6 main positions (6-max)
Most online cash games use 6-max (6 players per table). The seats are:
- •UTG (Under the Gun) — first to act preflop. Worst position.
- •MP (Middle Position) — second to act.
- •CO (Cutoff) — second-to-last preflop, late position.
- •BTN (Button) — last to act postflop. Best position.
- •SB (Small Blind) — forced bet of 0.5bb. Bad postflop position.
- •BB (Big Blind) — forced bet of 1bb. Bad position but already invested.
Why position matters so much
Acting last lets you see what everyone else does before you decide. You play more hands profitably from late position (BTN, CO) and fewer from early (UTG, MP). This is the #1 most important concept in poker after hand strength.
Late position (BTN, CO) = play more hands. Early position (UTG, MP) = play fewer. Blinds are forced bets, not real positions.
See unfamiliar terms? Check the full glossary.