'Under the Gun' in poker refers to the position to the immediate left of the big blind, which is the first to act in a betting round.

What is Under the Gun in Poker?

In poker, 'Under the Gun' (often abbreviated as UTG) refers to the position to the immediate left of the big blind. This position is the first to act in a betting round, before the flop in Texas Hold'em and Omaha. Being first to act can be a disadvantage as the player has no information about what the other players may do.

Understanding Under the Gun

Playing from the Under the Gun position requires a strong strategy because the player does not have the benefit of seeing how the other players will act before they must make their own decision. Therefore, a player in the UTG position will typically play a narrower range of starting hands.

Under the Gun in Poker

In a full ring game (a game with 9-10 players), the term UTG often refers to the first three positions to the left of the big blind. These are also known as UTG+1 and UTG+2.

Example of "Under the Gun"

For instance, a player in the Under the Gun position might decide to fold a weaker hand because they have no information about the other players' hands or intentions.

• "He was Under the Gun and decided to fold his weak hand."
• "Being Under the Gun, she knew she needed a strong hand to open the betting."
• "His aggressive play from the Under the Gun position surprised the other players."

Under the Gun in Poker FAQs

What is Under the Gun in poker?

Under the Gun (UTG) in poker refers to the position to the immediate left of the big blind. This position is the first to act in a betting round.

How does being Under the Gun affect my strategy?

Being Under the Gun is often seen as a disadvantage because the player has to act first, without any information about what the other players may do. Therefore, a player in the UTG position will typically play a narrower range of starting hands.

Can being Under the Gun be an advantage?

While being first to act is typically seen as a disadvantage, a skilled player can use the UTG position to their advantage by playing aggressively and putting pressure on the other players.

What's the difference between UTG, UTG+1 and UTG+2?

In a full ring game (a game with 9-10 players), the term UTG often refers to the first three positions to the left of the big blind. These are also known as UTG+1 and UTG+2.