Poker Positions Ranked, Best to Worst
Poker positions ranked best to worst, the button on top and blinds at the bottom, with a full ranking table and the win-rate logic behind the order.
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Ranked best to worst, poker positions run: button, cutoff, hijack, lojack, middle position, under the gun, big blind, small blind. The order follows one rule — the later you act after the flop, the better the seat. The button acts last and wins the most; the small blind acts first, posts a forced bet, and loses the most.
The ranking, with win-rate logic
Win rates are typically measured in big blinds per 100 hands (bb/100). Late seats run positive; the blinds run deeply negative because of the forced bets. Approximate figures for a solid regular:
| Rank | Position | Typical win rate | Why it ranks here |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Button (BTN) | +25 to +40 bb/100 | Last action every street; steal freely |
| 2 | Cutoff (CO) | +15 to +25 | Near-last action; only the button outranks it |
| 3 | Hijack (HJ) | +5 to +12 | Late enough to open wide and pressure |
| 4 | Lojack (LJ) | 0 to +6 | First of the “late” group; solid but not dominant |
| 5 | Middle (MP) | −2 to +3 | Roughly break-even; play tight |
| 6 | Under the gun (UTG) | −5 to 0 | First to act pre-flop; tightest range |
| 7 | Big blind (BB) | −10 to −25 | Forced bet, but gets a discount to defend |
| 8 | Small blind (SB) | −25 to −45 | Forced bet and always out of position — the biggest leak |
The blinds are negative for everyone. The goal there isn’t to profit; it’s to lose less than a weak player would.
Why the order never changes
Every position’s rank comes down to one question: how often, and how late, do you get to act after the flop?
- The button always acts last. No one can take that away, which is why it tops the list without exception.
- The cutoff usually acts last — but the button behind it can steal that spot, so its edge is slightly conditional. Hence rank 2, not 1. See why acting last wins.
- The blinds always act first post-flop and pay to be there. That combination is why they anchor the bottom no matter how well you play them.
The forced-bet penalty
The blinds rank last for a reason beyond position: you put money in before you’ve seen your cards. That “dead money” you contribute is a structural cost. A rough way to see the small blind’s disadvantage:
SB disadvantage ≈ forced bet cost + (out-of-position penalty on every street)
You pay half a big blind (or more) blind, and you act first for the rest of the hand. The big blind pays a full blind but at least gets to act after the small blind and sees a free flop when the pot is unraised — which is exactly why it ranks one spot higher. Play it well using big blind strategy.
Worked example: the button’s guaranteed edge
Two players reach the river with 9♠ 9♦ in a K♣ 7♥ 2♦ 4♠ J♣ board, unsure if their pair is good.
- The out-of-position player must act first. If they bet, they might get raised by a better hand; if they check, they surrender initiative. Either way, they’re guessing.
- The button acts last. They check behind for a cheap showdown when unsure, or bet only when the check in front of them signals weakness. They never face a decision without information.
Same hand, same board — the button turns a coin-flip guess into a controlled decision. Multiply that across every hand and you have the entire ranking in miniature.
Does the ranking change short-handed?
The order stays the same, but the gaps between seats compress at a 6-max table. With only six players, every seat is effectively “later” — there’s no true early position, so under the gun at 6-max plays more like middle position at a full ring. The button and blinds still bookend the ranking exactly as before, because the rules that create their edge don’t depend on table size.
One thing that does shift is how often you reach the top seats. At a 9-handed table you’re on the button once every nine hands; at 6-max, once every six. That means the button’s outsized win rate gets applied more frequently short-handed, which is a big reason many players find 6-max more profitable per hour once they’ve mastered late-position aggression.
What the ranking means for you
- Play the most hands from the top of the list (button, cutoff) and the fewest from the bottom (blinds, UTG).
- Steal blinds relentlessly from the button and cutoff — you’re attacking the two worst seats.
- Accept the blinds as a cost center. Your job there is damage control, not profit.
- Widen or tighten by rank, not by boredom. The seat sets the range; refine the details in preflop ranges.
The ranking is stable because the rules that create it never change. Learn to feel where you sit on this ladder each hand, then dig into the top seat with playing the button or return to the poker positions hub.
Frequently asked
What is the best position in poker?
The button is the best position. You act last on the flop, turn, and river, so you always have the most information when you make each decision. That advantage is worth the most money over time.
What is the worst position in poker?
The small blind is the worst position. You post a forced bet, act first on every post-flop street, and have almost no chance to act last, so it consistently loses the most money of any seat.
Why is the button ranked above the cutoff?
The button always acts last after the flop, while the cutoff still has the button behind it. If the button stays in the hand, the cutoff loses last action, so the button's edge is guaranteed and the cutoff's is not.
Are the blinds always the worst positions?
Almost always. The big blind is slightly better than the small blind because it acts after it and gets a free look pre-flop when the pot is unraised, but both are net losers over a career.