Which is the most profitable position?

BTN (Button) — last to act on every postflop street. Statistically the only position where amateur players also profit long-term.

Which is the least profitable position?

SB (Small Blind) — you've paid half a blind and are forced to play OOP. Even pros lose ~10-15bb/100 from SB.

How many hands to open from UTG 6-max?

About 15%: pockets 77+, AJs+, KQs, AQo+, and some high suited connectors.

Poker Positions — The Complete Table Seat Guide

Position may be the single most important variable in Texas Hold'em. The exact same hand can be a profitable open from the Button and a clear loser from UTG. Here we'll walk through all 6 seats at a 6-max table, explain how each affects opening range, dynamics vs opponents, and why the best winning players play 40% of hands from the Button and less than 15% from UTG.

The seats: UTG, MP, CO, BTN, SB, BB
Opening ranges (VPIP) by position
Why BTN is where most profit comes from
How to defend from BB (Defense Range)

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The 6 seats in a 6-max game

UTG (Under The Gun): first to act preflop. Tightest — open ~15% of hands.
MP (Middle / HJ): a bit wider, ~18-20%.
CO (Cutoff): second-best seat. Open ~25-27%.
BTN (Button): the king. Acts last on every postflop street. Open ~40-50%.
SB (Small Blind): paid half a blind, but plays OOP the rest of the hand. Statistically the biggest loser.
BB (Big Blind): paid a full blind — hence a discount. Defend ~35-40% vs a Button open.

Why is BTN so profitable?

From the Button you act last on flop, turn, and river. That\'s a massive information edge:

You see what your opponent did before you decide.
You can steal pots when they give up (Check-back → River bluff).
You control pot size (small bets to price them in or out).

IP vs OOP — the secret of winning players

Two players of equal skill — the one In Position (IP) earns 3-4× more than the one Out of Position (OOP). Rule of thumb: marginal hand OOP — fold. Same hand IP — play.

Practical exercise

Take K♠J♠. From UTG (6-max) — fold at most tables. From CO — clear open. From the Button — open + 3-bet vs weak players. Exact same hand, three different decisions. That\'s the power of position.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Poker Positions — The Complete Table Seat Guide

The seats: UTG, MP, CO, BTN, SB, BB

Opening ranges (VPIP) by position

Why BTN is where most profit comes from

How to defend from BB (Defense Range)

Subject to Terms of Use and Responsible Gaming Policy · 21+

The 6 seats in a 6-max game

UTG (Under The Gun): first to act preflop. Tightest — open ~15% of hands.
MP (Middle / HJ): a bit wider, ~18-20%.
CO (Cutoff): second-best seat. Open ~25-27%.
BTN (Button): the king. Acts last on every postflop street. Open ~40-50%.
SB (Small Blind): paid half a blind, but plays OOP the rest of the hand. Statistically the biggest loser.
BB (Big Blind): paid a full blind — hence a discount. Defend ~35-40% vs a Button open.

Why is BTN so profitable?

From the Button you act last on flop, turn, and river. That\'s a massive information edge:

You see what your opponent did before you decide.
You can steal pots when they give up (Check-back → River bluff).
You control pot size (small bets to price them in or out).