Poker Positions — The Complete Table Seat Guide

• UTG (Under The Gun): first to act preflop. Tightest — open ~15% of hands.
• MP (Middle / HJ): a bit wider, ~18-20%.
• CO (Cutoff): second-best seat. Open ~25-27%.
• BTN (Button): the king. Acts last on every postflop street. Open ~40-50%.
• SB (Small Blind): paid half a blind, but plays OOP the rest of the hand. Statistically the biggest loser.
• BB (Big Blind): paid a full blind — hence a discount. Defend ~35-40% vs a Button open.

From the Button you act last on flop, turn, and river. That\'s a massive information edge:

• You see what your opponent did before you decide.
• You can steal pots when they give up (Check-back → River bluff).
• You control pot size (small bets to price them in or out).

See also: Full opening chart, C-Bet by position, and 3-betting from late position — the Button is where most profitable 3-bets come from.

Two players of equal skill — the one In Position (IP) earns 3-4× more than the one Out of Position (OOP). Rule of thumb: marginal hand OOP — fold. Same hand IP — play.

Take K♠J♠. From UTG (6-max) — fold at most tables. From CO — clear open. From the Button — open + 3-bet vs weak players. Exact same hand, three different decisions. That\'s the power of position.