There are several important facets in Texas Hold’em Poker that increase your odds of making a profit in cash games or winning tournaments.

Getting an idea of your opponent’s next move before making yours is crucial in the outcome of the game. This is where table position comes into play.

The terminology may be alien to players in emerging poker jurisdictions such as the Middle East, so it is important to get to grips with what it means.

Arab players are increasingly signing-up for poker at online casinos in Kuwait and they need to be aware of the role table position plays in the game.

Given that every decision holds weight in the high-stakes world of poker, we have assessed what poker position means and why it matters so much.

Table Position in Poker

‘Table position’ refers to where you are seated at the table in relation to the dealer – also known as ‘the button’. It determines when you place a bet during a poker hand.

Each seat at the table has a specific name and comes with unique strategic implications. When a player has ‘position on you’, they will be sitting on your left and make their move after yours.

The dealer button rotates clockwise after each hand to make sure every player gets a chance to play each seat position, but there’s no doubt that certain ones are far more advantageous than others.

Most casinos have nine chairs at the table, which creates nine different poker seat positions. However, this figure can reduce in cash games and tournaments.

Here are the primary positions at a full nine-seat table, ranked from worst to best:

  • Small Blind (SB)
  • Big Blind (BB)
  • Under-the-Gun (UTG)
  • Under-the-Gun +1 (UTG+1)
  • Middle Position (MP)
  • Lojack (LJ)
  • Hijack (HJ)
  • Cut-off (CO)
  • Button (BTN)

Breaking Down the Positions

Early Position (EP) - Small Blind, Big Blind, Under-the-Gun & Under-the-Gun +1

Players in early position act first after the flop, turn and river. This is the worst group of seats because you have to make decisions without any knowledge of your opponent’s move.

There is a slim chance of coming away unscathed, but making sure your starting hand selection is much tighter will improve your odds.

Hands such as pocket pairs, strong-suited connectors and high-ranking cards are safer bets.

Middle Position (MP) - Middle Position & Lojack

Sitting in the middle position is not much of an improvement from EP. You get to see how those in EP play their hand before making decisions, but you still have a few players who follow.

A slot in MP allows you to play a bit looser, so you can widen your hand selection a bit, but you still need to tread carefully and make sure you’re not leaving yourself vulnerable to those in late position.

Late Position (LP) - Includes: Hijack, Cut-off & Button

The late position is two seats to the right of the dealer, and it's the best position in a poker game by a country mile. It is where you want to play the majority of your hands.

From there, you have an insight into how the hand is progressing, which puts you in a strong position to decide if you want to call, bet, raise or fold.

However, the most powerful seat at the table is the Button, which hands you the best position in every betting round.

Why Table Position Matters in Poker

Table position can decide the outcome of a game even if a player decides not to pay attention to the cards they’re dealt.

It gives you more control over the size of the pot and allows you to dictate the pace of the game. 

LP is also the best position for a bluff. It can force even players with marginal hands to fold, letting you win the pot without bothering about the cards you were dealt.

You can calculate pot odds better before you already know what’s at stake, having watched your opponents play their hand.

If you are drawing to a straight or flush, knowing the size of the pot and your chances of hitting your draw can be the difference between success and failure. 

LP also helps you make better and more informed decisions. By the time it is your turn, you have a clearer picture of what is going on and how to react.  

Studies have shown that players in LP win significantly more pots than those in EP, which highlights just how important table position is in a game of poker.

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