Poker Positions
Choose a table size to see the seat names and who acts first.
The dealer position. At this six-player table, the button acts last after the flop.
Before the flop
UTG → HJ → CO → BTN → SB → BB
After the flop
SB → BB → UTG → HJ → CO → BTN
Names around the table
- BTN: button
- The dealer position. It moves one seat clockwise after each hand. At tables with three or more players, the button acts last after the flop.
- SB: small blind
- At tables with three or more players, the first seat clockwise from the button posts the small blind. After the flop, this seat acts first when it remains in the hand.
- BB: big blind
- The next seat posts the big blind. Before the flop, it acts after the small blind and can check when everyone has only called.
- UTG: under the gun
- The first player after the big blind. UTG starts the preflop betting at tables with four or more players. UTG+1 and UTG+2 are the next seats.
- MP, LJ, HJ and CO
- Middle position, lojack, hijack and cutoff. CO sits immediately before the button; HJ is before CO and LJ before HJ. At ten players this diagram also uses MP between UTG+2 and LJ.
Follow the action
Before the flop, the blinds are already posted. Action starts to the left of the big blind and moves clockwise. A full raise reopens the action for players who still owe chips. The diagram gives the starting order for a fresh betting round.
After the flop, action starts with the first active player clockwise from the button. Folded seats are skipped. The same order applies on the flop, turn and river. Acting later lets you see more players’ choices before making your own.
Two players: the button posts the small blind
Heads-up, BTN / SB acts first before the flop. The big blind acts first after the flop, so the button acts last on all three later streets. At three players, the button acts first preflop and last postflop.
Shorter tables
Seat labels change with table size. At four players, the single seat between BB and BTN is UTG; it is also immediately before the button. This diagram uses UTG there to make the first preflop action clear. Seat order stays tied to the button as players join or leave.
See the preflop chart to compare computed equity by position. Walk through the blinds and betting rounds in the Hold’em rules tool.
Poker Positions by Table Size
The seats below run clockwise from the button. Each row uses the same seat names and action order as the diagram. Read across the row to locate a seat; the last columns identify who opens each betting round when every seat is still active.
| Players | Seats clockwise from button | First preflop | First after flop |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | BTN / SB → BB | BTN / SB | BB |
| 3 | BTN → SB → BB | BTN | SB |
| 4 | BTN → SB → BB → UTG | UTG | SB |
| 5 | BTN → SB → BB → UTG → CO | UTG | SB |
| 6 | BTN → SB → BB → UTG → HJ → CO | UTG | SB |
| 7 | BTN → SB → BB → UTG → UTG+1 → HJ → CO | UTG | SB |
| 8 | BTN → SB → BB → UTG → UTG+1 → LJ → HJ → CO | UTG | SB |
| 9 | BTN → SB → BB → UTG → UTG+1 → UTG+2 → LJ → HJ → CO | UTG | SB |
| 10 | BTN → SB → BB → UTG → UTG+1 → UTG+2 → MP → LJ → HJ → CO | UTG | SB |
At a shorter table, some familiar full-table labels disappear. Count the occupied seats relative to the button before naming your position. The table uses UTG for the first seat after the big blind whenever that seat is separate from the button.
What each seat does
Button, small blind and big blind
The button marks the dealer position even when a dedicated dealer handles the cards. It has the latest postflop decision whenever it stays in the hand. At tables with three or more players, the blinds act after the button before the flop, so an opening button bet can face a raise from either blind.
The small blind has already put in chips. At tables with three or more players, it acts first after the flop. It also has the big blind behind it before the flop. The big blind closes the initial preflop order; once someone raises, action can return to earlier players until all remaining contributions are matched.
UTG and the following early seats
Under the gun opens the preflop action with the rest of the table still to respond. UTG+1 acts immediately after UTG; UTG+2 follows UTG+1 when that label is present. Opening from an early seat means committing chips before seeing whether the later seats want to enter or raise.
MP, lojack, hijack and cutoff
MP appears at a 10-player table. The lojack sits before the hijack, and the hijack sits before the cutoff. These seats act later preflop than the UTG seats. Their postflop position depends on which players continue: the hijack has position on a remaining blind but acts before a remaining cutoff or button.
The cutoff is immediately before the button. If the button folds, the cutoff becomes the last active player to act after the flop. If the button calls, the cutoff must make its later-street decisions with that player still behind it.
Early, middle and late position
Early position describes the first seats to make a preflop choice. Middle position bridges those opening seats and the late seats near the button. The cutoff and button are late positions. The blinds deserve separate attention because they finish the initial preflop order but begin the postflop order.
These groups shrink as the table gets shorter.
Why acting last helps
A later player sees the checks, bets, calls and folds made ahead of them. If action checks to the button, the button can check back and take the next card, or bet after seeing that nobody led. An early player who checks must wait to learn whether a later player bets.
Acting last also makes the current price clearer. A caller with players behind can face a later raise; a player closing the action knows the amount needed to finish that round. Position gives you every choice made before yours.
Moving the button
Between hands, the button advances clockwise so the dealer position and blind duties rotate around the table. With the same players seated, you stay at your chair while your position relative to the button changes. Use “Move dealer” to follow that rotation in the diagram.