Under the Gun
Under the gun (UTG) is the seat directly left of the big blind. It acts first preflop, so it calls for the tightest range of starting hands.
Under the gun, usually written UTG, is the seat directly to the left of the big blind. Its player is the first to act preflop, which is where the name comes from: they are "under the gun" because they must decide before seeing anything from the rest of the table. UTG is the earliest of the early positions.
Where UTG sits and how it acts
- Preflop: UTG acts first. Every other player, including the blinds, acts after them.
- Postflop: action starts left of the button, so UTG acts after any blinds still in the hand but before middle and late positions. Against a player in the cutoff or on the button, UTG is out of position.
- Full ring: at a 9-handed table, the seats after UTG are often called UTG+1 and UTG+2 (or middle position), then the lojack, hijack, cutoff and button.
- 6-max: UTG has five players behind: hijack, cutoff, button, small blind and big blind.
Why UTG needs the tightest range
The more players left to act, the more likely someone holds a strong hand. A 9-handed UTG raise must get past eight opponents, and if one of them wakes up with a premium hand, you are often in trouble and out of position for the rest of the hand.
That is why solid opening ranges from UTG are tight. A reasonable beginner full-ring UTG range might include pocket pairs from about 7-7 up, A-K, A-Q, A-J suited, K-Q suited and a few other strong suited broadway hands. In 6-max, where only five players act behind, UTG can open a bit wider. Exact ranges vary by game and opponents, but the principle holds: early seat, strong hands.
Example hand
You are UTG at a 9-handed 1/2 table with K♣ J♦. It looks like a nice hand, but it is easily dominated by A-K, A-J, K-Q and big pairs, any of which could be out among eight opponents. Folding is standard. Move the same hand to the button and it becomes a comfortable raise.
Now say you hold Q♠ Q♥ UTG. You raise to 6, the cutoff 3-bets to 18 and it folds back to you. Your strong UTG range gives your hands credibility here: opponents know you opened from the toughest seat, which makes your continued aggression more believable.
Common UTG mistakes
- Opening loose "fun" hands such as small suited connectors in full ring.
- Limping UTG; raise or fold is usually better.
- Forgetting that a UTG raise from a tight opponent usually represents a very strong range.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called under the gun?
The player has to act first preflop with the entire table still to act behind them, which puts them under pressure.
Is UTG a good position?
It is the hardest preflop seat because everyone acts after you, so you should play your tightest range there.
Is UTG the same as early position?
UTG is the earliest of the early positions. In full ring, UTG+1 and sometimes UTG+2 are also considered early position.
Related poker terms
- Position — Position in poker is where you sit relative to the button, which decides when you act. Acting later gives you more information and more control.
- Big Blind — The big blind is the larger forced bet posted two seats left of the button before the deal. It sets the minimum bet and is the last to act preflop.
- Hijack — The hijack is the seat two places to the right of the button, just before the cutoff. It's a middle-to-late position for opening a moderate range.
- Cutoff — The cutoff is the seat directly to the right of the button. It's the second-best position at the table and a prime seat for raising to steal the blinds.
- Range — A range is the full set of hands a player could hold in a given spot. Thinking in ranges instead of single hands is the core of modern poker strategy.
- Out of Position — Out of position (OOP) means you must act before your opponent on each postflop street, which gives them extra information and makes your decisions harder.