One of the most critical yet misunderstood aspects of poker is table position: who acts first, who acts last, and how that order affects your strategy.
In this tutorial, we will explore the mechanics of who acts first in each round and why your position at the table determines the power of your decisions.
Who Acts First in Poker?
Along with the basic poker rules, learning the order of action is essential for understanding position in poker. This order changes slightly between the preflop round and the postflop streets (flop, turn, river).
Preflop Action
Before the community cards are dealt, the action starts to the left of the big blind. Here’s the flow:
Blinds are Posted:
- The small blind (SB) is posted by the player left of the dealer button.
- The big blind (BB) is posted by the next player to the left.
First to Act:
- The player directly left of the big blind is Under the Gun (UTG) and must act first.
- Options: Fold, Call (match the big blind), or Raise.
Blinds Act Last Preflop:
- After all other players have acted, the small blind and big blind can fold, call, raise, or check (if nobody raised).
- So preflop, the big blind acts last, which gives it a small positional edge in that round only.
Postflop Action (Flop, Turn, River)
Once the flop is dealt, and on all subsequent streets:
- Action starts with the first active player to the left of the dealer button.
- The dealer (or button) acts last in each postflop round.
- This remains true for all streets: flop, turn, and river.
Poker Table Positions Explained
Your seat relative to the dealer button determines your position and affects how you should play. Here are the main categories:
Early Position (EP)
Examples: UTG, UTG+1
These players act first after the cards are dealt.
You’re at a major disadvantage here because you make decisions with no information about what others will do.
Strategy: Play tight. Only strong poker hands should be played from here.
Middle Position (MP)
Examples: UTG+2, MP1, MP2
You have a bit more information but still face potential aggression from players behind you.
Strategy: Widen your range slightly but remain cautious.
Late Position (LP)
Examples: Cutoff (CO), Button (BTN)
You act last in postflop rounds.
This is the most powerful position in poker.
Strategy: Play a wide range of hands. You can control pot size, steal blinds, and bluff more effectively.
The Blinds (SB & BB)
Small Blind: Acts second preflop, first postflop.
Big Blind: Last to act preflop, early postflop.
Strategy: These positions are the worst postflop since you’re out of position in every street. Play carefully and defend wisely.
Why Position is Crucial
Let’s explore exactly how position impacts your edge:
1. More Information = Better Decisions
When you act later in the hand, you’ve already seen how your opponents acted. You can gauge strength or weakness, size your bets accordingly, and avoid traps. In contrast, early position players are essentially playing in the dark.
2. Pot Control
When you are in position, you can keep pots small when you have a marginal hand or grow them when you have strength. You are in control of whether a hand becomes expensive or remains manageable.
3. Easier Bluffing and Stealing
Late position lets you bluff more credibly. If everyone checks to you, it’s easier to represent a strong hand with a well-timed bet. It also gives you more opportunities to steal the blinds preflop when players before you fold.
4. You Extract More Value
Strong poker hands make more money in position. You can build pots gradually and get paid off because you control the narrative. You can slow-play, check-raise, or induce bluffs, tactics that are far riskier out of position.
5. You Make Fewer Mistakes
Position reduces uncertainty. You’re less likely to misread situations, overcommit to weak hands, or get trapped by stronger opponents. Poker is a game of minimizing mistakes and position helps you do that.
Positional Tips
- Act tight in an early position. Your range should be narrow and premium-heavy.
- Open up in a late position. Take advantage of information and leverage.
- Punish limpers when you’re in position by raising.
- Play fewer pots out of position. They are hard to win and easier to misplay.
- Button > All. On the button, you can play aggressively, control the action, and capitalize on others’ hesitation.
FAQs
Q: Who goes first in a poker hand?
A: Preflop, the first player to act is the one immediately to the left of the big blind, called Under the Gun. After the flop (and on the turn and river), action starts with the first active player to the left of the dealer button. This ensures that the dealer (or ‘button’) usually acts last, which gives a strategic advantage in every postflop round.
Q: What is the early, middle, and late position in poker?
A: Early position includes seats directly after the big blind and requires tight play due to limited information. The middle position offers slightly more flexibility, but caution is still important. Late position, especially the button and cutoff, allows players to act last, making it easier to bluff, extract value, and control the pot. The later your position, the wider your playable hand range can be.
Q: Why is position so important in poker?
A: Position gives you an informational edge. When you act after your opponents, you see what they do before making your decision. This allows better reads, smarter bluffs, more accurate value bets, and tighter pot control. The difference in profitability between playing a hand in position versus out of position can be massive, especially in marginal spots.
In poker, your cards are only half the story. The other half is where you sit and when you act. Mastering position will sharpen your strategy, protect your stack, and give you a consistent edge against unaware opponents. Remember, great players don’t just play the hand, they play the seat.
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