Under the Gun (UTG)
The player immediately to the left of the big blind who acts first in the preflop betting round. The worst preflop position.
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What Is Under the Gun (UTG)?
Because the UTG player has to act before seeing how anyone else responds, they need the tightest opening range at the table -- especially at full-ring tables with many players still left to act behind them. In shorthanded games, the UTG disadvantage is less severe since fewer players remain to act after.
Examples
A UTG player opening only premium hands like pocket pairs and big broadways at a full 9-handed table.
A tight UTG range widening considerably in a 6-max game due to fewer players left to act.
Strategy Tips
Play your tightest range from under the gun, since you're at the highest risk of running into a stronger hand or facing a 3-bet from one of many players left to act. Favor hands that play well post-flop and can withstand aggression, such as strong pairs and well-connected broadway cards, over speculative hands that need multi-way pots to profit. Recognize that table size matters significantly -- UTG in a 6-max game can open considerably wider than UTG in a full-ring 9 or 10-handed game. Consider your image and opponents' tendencies; a UTG open from a tight player is often read as very strong and can be exploited when it's correctly perceived that way.