The under the gun position in poker is the player in the earliest position, the one required to act first. 👄 It is abbreviated as UTG.
In games with blinds, such as Texas Hold'em or Omaha, it is the player seated just 👄 to the left of the big blind. The under the gun player must act first pre-flop in a game with 👄 blinds. After the flop, the under the gun player is then the third to act, after the small blind and 👄 big blind.
UTG is also used as a shorthand for the other early positions, with UTG+1 being the next player to 👄 the left of the under the gun position, UTG+2 the second player to the left, and UTG+3 the third player 👄 to the left.
Disadvantages of the Under the Gun Position
The term under the gun implies that you are under pressure, and 👄 that is true for this position. Everyone is awaiting your play before the flop and you don't know what the 👄 others are planning to do.
Pre-flop, all of the players at the table will have the option to call, raise, or 👄 fold after the UTG position. When you are in this position, you have no information about the strength of the 👄 hands of the other players. You don't know whether any of the other players will be calling, raising, or folding, 👄 and how many will still be in the hand after the flop.
If you raise under the gun, other players may 👄 see this as a signal of a very strong hand and may decide to fold, so you may not get 👄 any action. The action you get is liable to be from players who also think they have a strong hand.
After 👄 the flop, the under the gun player is still in an early position but may act second or third if 👄 either or both of the blinds are still in the hand. The UTG player won't have as much information as 👄 any player that follows him in the action, but has more than the blinds.
Playing in the Under the Gun Position
Many 👄 players will adopt a tighter strategy when they are in the early positions, especially in the UTG position.You might decide 👄 to only call or raise value hands, and a narrower range of hands. However, the other players will probably expect 👄 tighter play from you in UTG position and will judge their own play accordingly.
Some strategists say to always raise under 👄 the gun rather than call. If you're playing tight, it can make more sense to bet aggressively or simply fold 👄 rather than calling and potentially allowing the big blind to limp in and benefit from a lucky flop.
If you are 👄 short-stacked, the UTG position can be an opportunity to go all-in and steal the blinds, especially if you receive a 👄 good hand. Even with no action, you at least get enough to cover the blinds through the next two hands.
In 👄 games that allow straddling, it is often limited to the under the gun position. In a straddle, you would bet 👄 twice the big blind before being dealt cards, and you then become the last to act rather than the first 👄 to act pre-flop.
