Early Position
The seats to the left of the big blind that must act first in each betting round. Players in early position need stronger hands because they have less information.
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What Is Early Position?
Because early position players act before most of the table, they lack information about how many opponents will enter the pot and how aggressively, which increases the risk of being outplayed postflop. As a result, standard strategy calls for tighter opening ranges from early position compared to later seats like the cutoff or button.
Examples
Under the gun, a player opens only with premium hands like pocket pairs Jacks or better and strong broadway combinations.
A player in early position folds a marginal hand like King-Jack offsuit that they would raise from the button.
Strategy Tips
Tighten your opening range significantly in early position, focusing on hands that play well against multiple potential callers and 3-bets. Avoid limping speculative hands from early position, since you'll often be out of position for the rest of the hand with little information advantage. Consider your table's overall aggression level when selecting an early position range, tightening further against aggressive tables likely to 3-bet light. Practice disciplined folding from early position even with decent but non-premium hands, since positional disadvantage compounds across all future streets.