Position (poker)
The position in poker describes the order in which the players must act in certain forms of poker. The positions are always relative to the dealer , the real, online and fictitious dealer in home games. Its position is marked by a token, called the dealer button , and moves, just like the other positions, one place clockwise after each game.
Position distribution at the 10-person table
At a full table with ten players (longhand) the distribution of positions in the poker variant Texas hold'em looks like this (the abbreviations are also used in online games and in poker literature):
Blinds
The blinds must wager a minimum amount; From the second round (to which the count refers), they sit unfavorably at the front, but have the privilege of being the last to bet in the first round of betting. The term blinds therefore not only stands for a bet, but also for the player and his respective position.
1. Small blind
2. Big blind (usually double the amount of the small blind )
Front position
3. Under the gun (UTG)
is the most unfavorable poker position, as he must be the first to bet in the first round and at least one of the first in the following rounds. Since, in contrast to the blinds, he only makes the stake voluntarily, players usually only play with the very best starting hands.
4. under the gun +1 (UTG + 1)
5. under the gun +2 (UTG + 2)
Middle position
6. middle position 1 (MP1)
7. middle position 2 (MP2)
8. middle position 3 (MP3)
Back position
9. cut off (CO)
10. button (BU), the imaginary (actual when playing at home) dealer who bets last except in the first round (pre-flop)
At the shorthanded table
If, how often, high limit games are played at the small table on television or online (or the table is not fully occupied), the positions are counted counter-clockwise starting from the dealer button. The counting ends before the blinds. The remaining positions are omitted. At a table with 6 people, the positions would be:
1. Small blind
2. Big blind
3. Middle position 1 (MP 1)
4. Middle position 2 (MP 2)
5. Cut off (CO)
6. Button (BU)
Have a position or have no position
- You "have position" on players who have to bet before you and can therefore draw conclusions about the strength of their hands based on their behavior ( late position ).
- You "have no position" on players who come after you. You don't have any information about the hand strength of these opponents, they can use their own betting behavior in their decision ( early position ).
Position is one of the most important strategic elements in poker. The later it is your turn, the more information you can gather about your opponent's hand . The best position is therefore that of the distributor , in this case the position button . Position is so important that advanced players raise extra in the first round of betting in order to clear the places to the left of them up to the button, this is called position play .