Position Profit Calculator

Position is one of the most important concepts in poker, yet many players underestimate just how much money it's worth. This calculator helps you visualize and quantify the profit potential of each table position, showing why professional players fight for the button and fold marginal hands from early position.

Understanding positional profit distribution is essential for mastering table positions and making informed decisions about which hands to play from each seat. According to research published by the Gambling Studies Institute, winning players generate the majority of their profit from late position play.

Understanding Positional Advantage in Poker

Position in poker refers to where you sit relative to the dealer button, which determines the order of betting. Players in late position (button, cutoff) act last in betting rounds, while early position players (UTG, UTG+1) must act first. This simple concept has profound implications for strategy and profitability.

According to the PokerNews strategy section, the button is the most valuable seat at any poker table. Players on the button always act last post-flop, gaining crucial information about opponent intentions before making their own decisions. This information advantage translates directly into profit.

Why Position Creates Profit

The mathematics of positional advantage stem from several factors that compound over thousands of hands:

• Information Advantage: Acting last means you see opponents' actions before deciding. You can value bet when they show weakness, fold when they show strength, and bluff when they give up.
• Pot Control: Late position lets you control pot size more easily. You can check behind to reach showdown cheaply or bet for value and protection when you're strong.
• Bluffing Opportunity: When everyone checks to you, you can often take the pot with a well-timed bluff regardless of your actual hand strength.
• Wider Profitable Ranges: The same hand that loses money from UTG becomes profitable from the button because of these advantages.

Typical Win Rates by Position

Research from Two Plus Two Publishing, one of the most respected poker education resources, has compiled extensive data on positional win rates from millions of analyzed hands. The patterns are remarkably consistent across different stakes and player pools.

For a typical winning player at full ring (9-handed) games, expected win rates distribute approximately as follows:

• Button (BTN): +35 to +50 bb/100 - The most profitable seat by a wide margin
• Cutoff (CO): +15 to +25 bb/100 - Second most profitable, often undervalued by recreational players
• Hijack (HJ): +5 to +15 bb/100 - Transitional position with moderate advantage
• Lojack (LJ): -5 to +5 bb/100 - Roughly break-even for most winning players
• Middle Position (MP): -5 to +5 bb/100 - Similar to Lojack
• UTG+1: -10 to +0 bb/100 - Early position, typically loses or breaks even
• UTG (Under the Gun): -15 to -5 bb/100 - Most players lose from this position
• Small Blind (SB): -20 to -35 bb/100 - Worst position due to forced bet and being out of position
• Big Blind (BB): -25 to -40 bb/100 - Loses due to forced bet, but can defend more hands

Note that even winning players show negative win rates from the blinds. This is expected because you're forced to post blind bets. The goal isn't to profit from the blinds but to minimize losses while maximizing late position gains.

Practical Applications

Understanding positional profit has several practical applications for improving your game:

Range Construction

Your starting hand ranges should vary dramatically by position. From the button, you can profitably open 40-50% of hands. From UTG, even 15% might be too loose against tough opponents. Use the Hand Range Visualizer to explore position-based ranges.

Steal and Defense

Late position players should actively attempt to steal the blinds. The cutoff and button are "stealing positions" where you can profitably raise with many hands because the blinds often fold. Conversely, understanding this helps you defend your blinds appropriately against positional raises.

Game Selection

When choosing seats at a table, position relative to specific opponents matters. Ideally, sit to the left of aggressive players (you act after them) and to the right of passive players. Our Table Selection Guide covers these dynamics in detail.

Session Planning

Use this calculator with our Profit Target Calculator to set realistic session goals. Understanding that roughly 60-70% of your profit comes from late position helps manage expectations during orbits where you're stuck in early position.

Position in Different Game Types

6-Max vs Full Ring

In 6-max games, positions cycle faster and you reach the button more often per hour. However, the relative advantage of each position remains similar. The button is still king, though the "early position" in 6-max (UTG and UTG+1 equivalent) is actually similar to middle position in full ring games.

Tournament vs Cash

Position value changes slightly in tournaments due to ICM considerations. Near the bubble, positional aggression becomes even more valuable as players tighten up to survive. Short-stacked, position matters less since most decisions become preflop push/fold situations.

Live vs Online

Live games typically play looser, making position even more valuable. You'll see more multiway pots where acting last is crucial. Online games are tighter, but the higher hand volume means positional edges compound faster. See our Online vs Live Poker Guide for more differences.

Common Position Mistakes

Many players, especially beginners, make costly positional errors:

• Playing Too Many Hands From Early Position: Marginal hands like KJo or A9s are playable from the button but should often be folded from UTG.
• Not Stealing Enough From Late Position: When it folds to you on the button or cutoff, you should raise a wide range to attack the blinds.
• Overdefending the Blinds: While you get a discount, playing too many hands out of position leads to difficult postflop situations.
• Ignoring Position When Calling: Calling a raise is most profitable in position. Cold calling from early or middle position often turns winners into losers.

Improving Your Positional Play

To maximize positional profit, focus on these areas:

1. Track Your Stats: Use session tracking to monitor win rates by position. Most players are surprised by the data.
2. Tighten Early Position: Be more selective with UTG and UTG+1 opens. Only premium hands justify playing from these seats.
3. Widen Late Position: Be more aggressive from CO and BTN. Attack the blinds and take advantage of your positional edge.
4. Practice Post-Flop Position: Use the Post-Flop Trainer to improve decisions when you have position.
5. Study Hand Ranges: Understanding position-based ranges is fundamental. Our Preflop Trainer helps build these instincts.

The Mathematics Behind the Calculator

This calculator uses straightforward mathematics to compute positional profit:

Total Win Rate = Average of all positional win rates (since you play each position equally often over time)

Hourly Rate = (Win Rate in bb/100) × (Big Blind $) × (Hands per Hour) / 100

Position Contribution = (Position Win Rate) / (Number of Positions) × 100%

The research foundation for typical positional win rates comes from academic studies in game theory, including work published by Carnegie Mellon's Poker AI research team, which has analyzed billions of hands to understand optimal play patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Tools and Guides

• Poker Position Explained - Complete guide to table positions
• Hand Range Visualizer - See opening ranges by position
• Preflop Trainer - Practice position-based decisions
• Table Selection Guide - Choose profitable seats
• Expected Value Calculator - Calculate decision profitability
• Session Tracker - Monitor your positional stats