Poker có hệ thống thuật ngữ riêng cho từng vị trí tại bàn. Biết các terms này là cần thiết để đọc strategy content, follow poker discussions, và communicate với players khác.
Thuật Ngữ Cơ Bản
Dealer Button (BTN)
Button = vị trí của dealer chip.
Player tại BTN:
- Acts LAST postflop mọi street (strongest position)
- Acts second-to-last preflop (before SB và BB)
"On the button" = đang ở BTN position.
Button rotates clockwise sau mỗi hand.
Small Blind (SB)
Vị trí: Ngay bên trái BTN.
Blind post: Half the big blind (ví dụ: $1 trong $1/$2 game).
Đặc điểm: Acts last preflop trong first orbit, acts FIRST postflop.
Worst postflop position — must act before everyone else.
Big Blind (BB)
Vị trí: Ngay bên trái SB.
Blind post: Full big blind ($2 trong $1/$2 game).
Đặc điểm: Acts last preflop in first round (gets to check or raise). Acts second in postflop.
"Defending the big blind" = calling a raise from BB position.
Early Position (EP)
Under The Gun (UTG)
UTG = player ngay bên trái BB.
Acts first in preflop — worst preflop position.
Must play without knowing what anyone else will do.
Tight range required: Everyone behind can have strong hands.
UTG+1
Một seat bên phải UTG.
9-handed: UTG+1 = second to act preflop.
Still considered early position.
UTG+2 (9-Handed Only)
Third position from left at 9-handed table.
Transition zone between EP and MP.
Middle Position (MP)
Middle Position (MP) / Lojack (LJ)
MP = positions between EP and late position.
Lojack (LJ) = specific term for "four to the left of dealer" = first middle position.
Why "Lojack"? Plays on "Hijack" (two left of dealer) — positioned below HJ in order.
Hijack (HJ)
HJ = two seats to the right of BTN.
Named "Hijack" because this position can "hijack" steal opportunities from CO and BTN.
Good late-middle position. Can open decently wide.
Late Position
Cutoff (CO)
CO = one seat to the right of BTN.
Named "Cutoff" because this player can "cut off" the action before the button.
If BTN and blinds fold → CO becomes the most powerful remaining position.
Second best position overall. Profitable steal/open position.
Button (BTN)
Already covered above. The prime real estate.
Position Terms By Number Of Players
Full Ring (9-Handed) Positions
Full lineup:
UTG → UTG+1 → UTG+2 → Lojack (MP) → Hijack (HJ) → Cutoff (CO) → Button (BTN) → SB → BB
6-Max (6-Handed) Positions
In 6-max, positions shift:
UTG → UTG+1 → HJ → CO → BTN → SB → BB
UTG in 6-max ≈ MP in 9-max in terms of openness.
Heads-Up (2 Players)
Only two positions:
BTN/SB → Acts first preflop, acts SECOND postflop.
BB → Acts second preflop, acts FIRST postflop.
In HU, BTN = dealer button.
Relative Position Terms
In Position (IP)
"In position" = acting AFTER your opponent postflop.
"I was in position against the BB."
Doesn't mean specific seat — means you act later than the reference player.
Out Of Position (OOP)
"Out of position" = acting BEFORE your opponent postflop.
"I had to play the hand out of position."
Deep Position
"Deep" position usually refers to late position (CO, BTN).
Blind-Specific Terms
Posting The Blinds
"Posting" = putting the forced bet in before seeing cards.
SB "posts" the small blind. BB "posts" the big blind.
Defending The Blind
"Blind defense" = calling or raising from SB or BB position against a steal attempt.
"BB defended with a 3-bet."
Squeeze From The Blind
Squeeze = 3-bet from SB or BB after there's been a raise and a call.
"SB squeezed to 15BB."
Live Poker Position Terms
Under The Gun + Seat Numbers
In casino live games, positions sometimes referenced by seat number (Seat 1, Seat 2, etc.).
Seat 1 is often near the dealer, rotating positions.
Dealer Chip Movement
"Moving the button" = physical chip moves one seat clockwise.
New positions after each hand.
Tournament Position Terms
Stack-Relative Position (Short Stack, Big Stack)
"Position" in tournament can also refer to chip stack relative to field:
"I was in a good chip position for the final table."
Different from seat position — this is stack position.
Late Position In Tournament Structure
"Playing from late position in the tournament" = deep in the event (near the money, final table).
Different from seat position — but same word "position" used in different sense.
Common Mistakes In Position Terminology
Confusing IP/OOP With "Good/Bad"
Being OOP isn't always bad — it's just a constraint.
SB is OOP but sometimes has good pot odds to call.
"OOP" = you have less information advantage, not that you should always fold.
Not Adjusting For Table Size
"UTG" in 9-max vs. 6-max is different.
UTG in 6-max is roughly equivalent to CO in 9-max in terms of play tightness needed.
Always be aware of table size when applying positional strategy.
Summary Table
| Abbreviation | Full Name | Position |
|---|---|---|
| BTN | Button | Best position (acts last postflop) |
| CO | Cutoff | Second best |
| HJ | Hijack | Good late-middle |
| LJ | Lojack | Middle position |
| MP | Middle Position | Middle |
| UTG | Under The Gun | Worst preflop position |
| SB | Small Blind | Bad postflop (acts first) |
| BB | Big Blind | Slightly better than SB postflop |
| IP | In Position | Acting after opponent |
| OOP | Out Of Position | Acting before opponent |
Kết Luận
Nắm vững position terminology:
- BTN = best postflop — acts last with maximum information
- UTG = worst preflop — acts first with no information
- SB = worst postflop — OOP for every street
- IP/OOP = relative terms, not seat-specific
- Table size matters — UTG in 6-max ≠ UTG in 9-max
- Position vocabulary = necessary for reading any poker strategy
These terms appear in every poker discussion, strategy article, and coaching session. Mastery of position terminology unlocks your ability to learn from the vast library of poker strategy content available.