The button is the reference point
Positions are relative to the dealer button. They are not fixed seats on the screen. BTN marks the dealer position. At a table with a professional dealer, someone else can physically deal the cards.
Once you know the order of play, play a free game against bots and follow the button, the blinds and who acts in each round, using only play chips.
After the hand, the button moves clockwise. Each player rotates through the positions. In the diagram above, “Move the button” changes the position labels while the players stay in their seats.
The six positions at this table
- UTG · under the gun: first player to the left of the BB and first to act preflop.
- HJ · hijack: next position after UTG at a six-handed table.
- CO · cutoff: seat immediately before the button.
- BTN · button: dealer position and last to act after the flop if still in the hand.
- SB · small blind: first seat to the left of the button, which posts the smaller blind.
- BB · big blind: seat to the left of the SB, which posts the bigger blind.
Larger tables add early and middle positions such as UTG+1 and LJ. A nine-handed position chart needs adjustment before you apply it to a six-handed table.
Who acts before and after the flop?
Preflop
The starting order is UTG → HJ → CO → BTN → SB → BB. The blinds are already posted, but those players still get to act. The BB may check if nobody raised and their contribution already matches the bet.
Flop, turn and river
Start with the first player still in the hand to the left of the button: SB → BB → UTG → HJ → CO → BTN, skipping anyone who folded. If the SB folded, the BB may act first. If both folded, move to the next active player.
A raise means affected players must respond again. Completing one pass does not end the round. Everyone still in the hand must have responded and matched the bet, except those who are all-in.
How does position affect play?
Acting later lets you see more decisions before making your own. Being “in position” relative to an opponent usually means acting after them postflop. Being “out of position” means acting before them.
This affects how many hands you can open, how you control pot size and when you bet. Position alone cannot make every hand playable. Prior actions, stacks, format and opponents still matter.
The button normally acts last postflop. The big blind often acts early after the flop, even though it is last in the initial preflop order. The order depends on the street.
Heads-up, antes and short-handed tables
With two players, the button is also the small blind. It acts first preflop and last after the flop. The other player is the BB and starts postflop action.
Antes do not create new positions. A big blind ante is an extra contribution paid by the BB, not another seat in the order. Button and blind movement rules can vary when seats are empty. The diagram shows a simplified full table.