Playing 'Under the Gun'

Under the Gun is the table position immediately left of the big blind and is the first to act in the hand. The dealer button in any game of poker indicates the order of play. The player left of the dealer posts the small blind and the next again position posts the big blind.

Playing under the gun does not give positional advantage. The disadvantage of playing in this position is that you don't get any information about your opponents hands, being first to act. In a ten seater game, there are nine other hands behind you that could be better than yours. Unfortunately playing under the gun, you'll only see how they play their hands after you have acted.

The player in last position is known as cut-off. This player has an advantage over everyone else, particularly the player under the gun as he gets to see what the whole table does before determining how to play his hand.

In the example above, Carol is under the gun and first to act.

When we consider playing a semi strong hand from under the gun and cut off, it brings to life the advantage that playing from late has. You hold A 10, which is a pretty strong hand. You are first to act and post a bet, 3X BB. A few players fold and then you see a raise from a player in mid position then a subsequent re-raise. What was a strong hand before you saw anyone play, isn't any more. It's an instant fold.

Also worth considering that by raising early, you're tempting players in late position to 3 or 4-bet to take down the pot. The most in the pot, the harder players will fight for it!

Now you're in the cut off (last to act) with the same hand. You see an initial raise from UTG. You then see a re-raise from mid position. You would have folded and not wasted any chips on the pot. This is positional advantage.

The information you get from watching how players play their hand is immense in poker. It is important to note that the dealer button moves clockwise round the table, so each player gets their turn in each position. For more on this, please read our guide on table position and it's importance.