What Is the Lojack in Poker?
The lojack is the seat three to the right of the button. Learn where it sits, how it differs from the hijack, and how to play it profitably.
On this page · 8 sections
The lojack is the seat three to the right of the button, sitting just before the hijack. At a full table it’s the first of the “late” positions — the earliest chair from which you’ll regularly open to steal — but it still has three players to act behind it, so you play a touch tighter than the seats closer to the button.
Where the lojack sits
Poker seats are defined by how many players act after you. Going clockwise, the run into the dealer button is:
| Seat | Abbrev. | Players behind (pre-flop) |
|---|---|---|
| Lojack | LJ | 3 (HJ, CO, BTN) + blinds |
| Hijack | HJ | 2 (CO, BTN) + blinds |
| Cutoff | CO | 1 (BTN) + blinds |
| Button | BTN | 0 (blinds only) |
The lojack is often called UTG+2 at a 9-handed table or simply the seat before the hijack. It marks the handoff from middle position to late position — the point where stealing the blinds starts to become a live plan.
How the lojack differs from the hijack
The two seats are neighbors, but that one chair matters. The hijack sits closer to the button, so:
- The hijack has fewer players behind, so it can open a wider range and steal more often.
- The lojack acts first of the two, giving the hijack information about you every hand.
- The lojack’s opening range is therefore tighter and more value-weighted than the hijack’s.
Think of the lojack as the hijack’s slightly more cautious older sibling. Both are profitable stealing seats; the lojack just leans a shade toward strength.
A lojack opening range
From the lojack you open wider than middle position but rein it in versus the cutoff and button. A workable full-ring range (about 15–18% of hands):
| Category | Open |
|---|---|
| Pairs | 22+ |
| Suited aces | A9s+ (mix A5s–A2s) |
| Broadways | KQ, KJ, QJ, AJ+, KTs, QTs, JTs |
| Suited connectors | T9s, 98s, 87s |
| Offsuit | AJo+, KQo |
Fold the weak offsuit hands (KTo, QJo are borderline) and the loose suited gappers you’d happily open on the button. With three players yet to act, discipline pays.
Worked example: opening vs waiting
It folds to you in the lojack with A♠ T♠.
- The read: ATs is a comfortable lojack open — a suited ace with straight and flush potential that flops well and dominates the aces weaker players call with.
- Now shift the seat: move that same hand to the cutoff and it’s an even easier, more aggressive open, because two fewer players can wake up with a bigger hand. Move it to early middle position and it becomes marginal.
- The lesson: the lojack is where hands like ATs graduate from “sometimes” to “standard.” The seat, not just the cards, sets the decision — the core idea behind why position matters.
Playing the lojack after the flop
Opening from the lojack means you’ll usually be out of position if a later seat calls — the hijack, cutoff, or button all act after you. That shapes your post-flop plan:
- Value-bet your strong hands confidently; your range is tighter than the button’s, so you hold the top of the range more often.
- Continuation-bet selectively. Fire on boards that favor your opening range (high, connected cards) and check more on textures that hit the caller.
- Don’t overplay marginal top pairs out of position against a caller who can have you beat and will act after you every street.
When the blinds are the only callers, you often are in position or first-to-act against weak ranges, so you can barrel more freely. Knowing who called, and where they sit, matters as much as the flop itself — the essence of why position is important.
Adjusting the lojack range to your table
The 15–18% guideline is a starting point, not a law. Shift it based on who sits behind you:
| Behind you | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Aggressive 3-bettors | Tighten — drop weak suited aces and offsuit broadways |
| Loose, passive callers | Widen suited hands with good playability |
| Tight, fit-or-fold blinds | Add more steal-oriented opens |
| Short-handed table (6-max) | Widen — the lojack is effectively middle-to-late |
At a 6-handed table the lojack is often the first seat to act after the blinds are stripped away, which pushes its range wider than the full-ring version above.
Common lojack mistakes
- Opening a button-sized range. Three players sit behind you; a 40% range gets punished by 3-bets and cold-calls.
- Playing it like middle position. Too tight and you leave blind-stealing profit on the table. The lojack should open wider than UTG or MP.
- Ignoring the players behind. A loose 3-bettor on the button or aggressive blinds should tighten your opens; passive opponents let you widen.
Put it together
The lojack is the gateway to late position: open a solid, value-leaning range, steal more than you would up front, but respect the three players still to act. See how it hands off to the hijack and cutoff in the poker positions hub, and lock in your ranges with pre-flop strategy.
Frequently asked
What is the lojack in poker?
The lojack is the position two seats to the right of the button, immediately before the hijack. At a full table it's the first of the late positions and sits just outside middle position — the earliest seat from which you'll routinely open to steal.
Where does the lojack sit at the table?
Going clockwise, the order into the button is lojack, hijack, cutoff, then button. The lojack is third from last to act pre-flop, so three players still sit behind you before the blinds.
What's the difference between the lojack and the hijack?
The hijack is one seat closer to the button than the lojack, so it has fewer players behind it and can open wider. The lojack acts first of the two and plays a slightly tighter, more value-heavy range.
How wide should you open from the lojack?
Wider than middle position but tighter than the hijack and cutoff. A common full-ring opening range is around 15–18% of hands — pairs, most broadways, and the stronger suited connectors and suited aces.