Texas Hold’em Table Positions (9-max / 6-max)

Names, abbreviations, acting order and characteristics of every Texas Hold'em position, from Under the Gun (UTG) to the Big Blind (BB), for both 9-handed and 6-handed tables. Position sets the order of action and underpins strategy.

Full Ring (9-max) positions

AbbrPositionActing orderCharacteristics
UTGUnder the Gun1 / 9The first seat to act preflop, immediately left of the big blind. As the earliest position it acts before everyone post-flop except the blinds, so opening ranges here are traditionally the tightest.
UTG+1Under the Gun +12 / 9The seat just after UTG in a full-ring game. It still acts early, so it is grouped with early position and associated with relatively tight opening ranges.
UTG+2Under the Gun +23 / 9The third early-position seat in a full-ring game, sometimes called middle-early. Acting order is still unfavorable relative to later seats.
LJLojack4 / 9A middle-position seat two to the right of the button (before the hijack). Ranges widen relative to early position as fewer players remain to act.
HJHijack5 / 9The seat two to the right of the button. It is a late-middle position where positional advantage starts to become meaningful.
COCutoff6 / 9The seat immediately right of the button. As one of the strongest positions, it acts after most opponents post-flop and only loses position to the button.
BTNButton7 / 9The dealer position and the best seat at the table: it acts last on every post-flop street, giving maximum information before deciding.
SBSmall Blind8 / 9Posts the small forced blind and acts first on every post-flop street, making it a positionally difficult seat despite already having chips invested.
BBBig Blind9 / 9Posts the big forced blind and acts last preflop but second-to-first post-flop. The mandatory blind already invested affects how the pot is contested.

6-max positions

AbbrPositionActing orderCharacteristics
UTGUnder the Gun1 / 6The first seat to act preflop, immediately left of the big blind. As the earliest position it acts before everyone post-flop except the blinds, so opening ranges here are traditionally the tightest.
HJHijack2 / 6The seat two to the right of the button. It is a late-middle position where positional advantage starts to become meaningful.
COCutoff3 / 6The seat immediately right of the button. As one of the strongest positions, it acts after most opponents post-flop and only loses position to the button.
BTNButton4 / 6The dealer position and the best seat at the table: it acts last on every post-flop street, giving maximum information before deciding.
SBSmall Blind5 / 6Posts the small forced blind and acts first on every post-flop street, making it a positionally difficult seat despite already having chips invested.
BBBig Blind6 / 6Posts the big forced blind and acts last preflop but second-to-first post-flop. The mandatory blind already invested affects how the pot is contested.

An educational explanation of concepts; position affects information and order of action, and is not a specific betting instruction.