Button
Position Level · Beginner Aliases: BTN, dealer button, on the button
The button holds the dealer button and acts last on every postflop street.
What is Button
The button, abbreviated BTN, is the seat holding the dealer button. In a normal multiway pot the button acts last on every postflop street, seeing everyone else’s choice before deciding, which makes it the easiest position from which to realise equity, control the pot and make thin value bets or bluffs. Preflop it sits after the cutoff and before the two blinds, so when the players in front fold, the button can open a much wider range to steal. Positional advantage is real, but it does not make any two cards a profitable open — blind defence, effective stacks, rake and your own postflop ability all still count. The button moves one seat clockwise every hand; it does not belong to one player.
On the felt
Table6-max cash game
PositionBTN
FlopPreflop and postflop
ActionOpen after folds and act last postflop
Example
Everyone folds to you on the button with Q♠9♠ and you open to 2.5BB. The big blind calls, and on the flop you act last, so you can see whether they check before deciding to bet.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the button acts last preflop too. Both blinds are still behind and may call or re-raise.
- Thinking the button lets you open any two cards. Table conditions, rake and blind strategies still decide whether a marginal hand is profitable.
Related terms
Position
Position is where you act in the betting order — and how much you get to see before you decide.
Bad Beat
A bad beat is a hand that was a heavy favourite when the chips went in but lost to an unlikely runout.
Blind
A blind is a forced bet posted before cards are dealt, by a designated position, to start the action.
Bluff
A bluff is a bet made with a weak hand, aiming to make better hands fold.
Buy-in
A buy-in is the amount paid to join a game or tournament in exchange for starting chips.