Best Poker Table Positions: Winning Strategies for Each Seat

Making seemingly random seats at poker tables work for you can change your game completely. In this comprehensive article, we will dive deep into the intricacies of each position, from Big Blind to Cutoff, and reveal the strategic advantages they hold. You will learn how to dominate the game, exploit your opponents' weaknesses, and maximize your winnings, all depending just on where you sit! So, here’s your ultimate guide on understanding the best poker table positions.

What are Seats at a Poker Table Called?

In poker, table seats or positions refer to the places players occupy in relation to the dealer. Each position offers a unique perspective and advantage, as it determines the order of play for each betting round. Before we dive into the best seats, it’s important to learn the names (and nicknames) of all positions. A typical six-player poker table has the following positions:

• Early position (Under the gun)
• Middle position (Hijack)
• Late position (Cutoff)
• Button
• Small blind 
• Big blind

When playing at a nine-player table, three extra seats are added. Located between Under the gun and Hijack, they are called Under the gun +1, Under the gun +2, and Lowjack. These seats remain the same regardless how you play poker: in land-based casinos or at online poker sites in Canada.

Understanding the Best Poker Table Positions

Understanding table positions is crucial because it allows you to make more informed decisions based on the actions of other players. By being aware of your position, seats of your opponents, and their strengths or weaknesses, you can gain a significant edge in the game.

One of the most important aspects of poker seats is the concept of "position advantage." Players in later positions have the advantage of acting after their opponents, giving them more information to make further moves. They can observe how other players react and adjust their strategy accordingly, putting them in favor. On the other hand, players in earlier positions have limited information and must make decisions without knowing how other people will act. This puts them at a disadvantage, as they are more likely to be bluffed or forced to fold strong hands. Taking into account information above, it’s important to know more about each position and how to change your strategy based on where you sit. Even if you play with live dealers at Everygame, your position matters, to say nothing about land-based venues and tournaments. So, let’s take a closer look at each seat and its pros and cons for players.

Early Position (Under the gun)

The early position at the poker table includes a player seated to the left of the Big blind. Also known as Under the gun (UTG), this is the toughest seat at the table. The UTG player, who is the first to act, has nothing to rely on, except his own starting hands. Since there are still many players left to act, there is a small chance for the UTG poker player to trick his opponents or have any information about others’ hands.

How to act if you are the one who makes the first move? When in an early position, it is important to be selective with your starting hands. Premium hands like 2 Aces, Kings, Queens, and Ace-King should be played aggressively, either by raising or re-raising, to narrow the field and build the pot. However, weaker hands like small pairs should be approached with caution, as they are more likely to be dominated. In the UTG position, it is crucial to avoid getting trapped in situations where you are out of position and facing tough decisions on later streets.

Middle Position (Hijack)

The middle position or Hijack means that players are seated between the UTG player and other later positions. This seat offers a bit more flexibility and space for maneuvering compared to the early position. While still not having the advantage of acting last, Hijack players can observe the actions of the UTG players and change their strategy if needed. In the middle position, it is important to widen your starting hand range slightly compared to the early position. You can risk cards, especially if they are of the same suit or rank, to say nothing about titans like Royal Flush - the best poker hand. You can even add more off-suit cards with blockers into your opening range. However, it is still crucial to exercise caution and avoid getting involved in marginal situations.

Late Positions (Cutoff and Button)

Players seated to the right of the dealer button are in the late positions at the poker table. They are called Cutoff and Button. These seats offer strategic advantages and are considered one of the best poker table positions. Being in a later position like Cutoff or Button allows you to act with the most information, as you can see how all the other players have acted before making your move. This gives you a significant edge in comparison to players in UTG and Hijack. If you find yourself in one of the two late positions, you have the freedom to play a wider range of starting hands. You can profitably play cards that you would fold in earlier positions, such as suited cards, small pairs, etc. The goal is to take advantage of your position by stealing blinds, re-raising opponents, and putting pressure on the players in earlier positions. By being aggressive and utilizing your positional advantage, you can often win pots without having to show your cards. It is worth saying that having a Button position gives you a bigger advantage, as you get to act last on every betting round. This allows you to manipulate the pot size, control the action, and exploit your opponents' weaknesses. The button is where you can truly dominate the game and accumulate chips.

Small Blind 

The Small blind is one of the most challenging positions at the poker table. It requires the most careful decision-making among all. Since you have already invested a portion of your chips in the pot, you are getting better odds to call raises compared to other positions.

However, playing from the small blind still puts you at a positional disadvantage, as you don’t see your hands before adding money to the pot. Additionally, you are the first player to make a move after the flop. When playing from the Small blind seat at Everygame Poker or at a real table, it is important to be selective with your starting hands. You should focus on playing strong cards like big pairs or suited aces that can be played aggressively, either by calling or re-raising. However, weaker hands should be approached with caution, as they are more likely to be beaten. Overall, the player’s goal in the Small blind is to minimize losses and play mistake-free poker rather than hope for a big pot.

Big Blind 

Hardly one of the best poker table positions, the Big blind requires the most investment, as it is the last position at the table and the second one to act after the flop. Playing from the Big blind seat puts you at a positional disadvantage for the rest of the round. The main disadvantage of this poker position is that you don’t see your cards before making a blind.  Big blind players must defend their blind stakes with a wide range of hands. Therefore, you should look to call or re-raise with hands that have good playability post-flop, such as suited cards in potentially strong combinations, suited aces, and small pairs. But you must be careful not to overplay hands that are easily taken down or have weak post-flop playability. When you are a BB player, you focus on extracting value from strong hands and defending your blind against opponents in better positions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Different Poker Table Positions

While understanding places you sit at can give you a significant edge at online casinos in Canada, it is equally important to avoid mistakes that players make even in the best poker table positions. Here are just some of the most popular mistakes poker fans make during the game:

• Playing too many hands from an early position is a big no for poker pros. Since you will be one of the first to act in UTG, it is crucial to be selective with your starting hands and avoid getting involved in marginal situations. 
• Playing too passively from the Button position. Since you have the ultimate position advantage, you should be aggressive and take control of the action.
• In the small blind, a common mistake is calling too many raises without a strong hand. While you may be getting better pot odds, playing from the small blind still puts you at a positional disadvantage, and you should be cautious not to overplay weak hands. 
• BB poker players should avoid defending too wide with weak hands. While it is important to defend your blind, you must be selective and avoid falling into traps set by stronger opponents.

By understanding the strategic advantages of each position and adjusting your moves accordingly, you can raise your winning odds towards your opponents. If you can, choose where to seat. Aim for middle and late positions, but avoid both blinds and UTG. Also, remember to be observant of table dynamics and avoid common mistakes we have mentioned above.

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