What Is Under the Gun in Poker? How to Play This Position

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Tips and strategies for playing this high-pressure poker position

Co-authored by Alec Torelli and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: November 12, 2025 Fact Checked

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Under the Gun Meaning

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Under the Gun Strategy

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Post-Flop Strategy

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Poker FAQ

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Tips

If you’re playing any version of flop poker, like Texas or Omaha Hold’em, the “under the gun” (UTG) table position can change how you play the game. This early position means you’re betting before any other player, but your decision depends on what cards are in your hand. If you want to feel more confident at the poker table, keep reading to learn what “under the gun” means and how to properly play it.

Under the Gun Poker Position: Quick Overview

When you're under the gun (UTG) in poker, you're immediately clockwise to the Big Blind player and the first person to take a turn before the flop.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Alec Torelli
Professional Poker Player

Expert Interview} The next players to the left of the under the gun player are called "UTG+1" and "UTG+2."

Section 1 of 4:

What does “under the gun” mean in poker?

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A player that’s “under the gun” is the first player to the left of the big blind. At the start of a poker hand, the first 2 players to the left of the dealer (button) are the small blind and big blind players.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Alec Torelli
Professional Poker Player

Expert Interview} Being under the gun means you’re immediately after the big blind player and are the first person to decide whether you want to call, raise, or fold your hand.^{[3]
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- The position is called “under the gun” because there’s a lot of pressure to make a good move as the first player and you don’t have any information about the other players’ hands.
- The players immediately after the under the gun position are commonly known as “UTG+1” and “UTG+2.”

Section 2 of 4:

How to Play Under the Gun in Poker

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Raise only the strongest hands. When you’re under the gun and it’s your turn to act, play really conservatively since you’re at a disadvantage to the other players. Raising is usually the best option to let other players know you have a strong hand and make them more likely to fold. The hands that are the best to raise when you’re under the gun are:^{[4]
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- Pairs of 8s or higher
- Ace and face card of different suits
- Ace with a face card or 10 of the same suit
- Face cards (broadway cards) of the same suit
- Calling and matching the big blind is also known as “limping,” and some players suggest avoiding this tactic because it puts you out of position post-flop. However, if you have a pair of Aces or another high hand, calling can be a good way to bluff and trick a player into raising the pot higher.
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Fold weaker hands to avoid losing money. For the rest of the possible lower poker hands, it’s more likely that other players have stronger sets of cards than you. Rather than raising or calling and putting more of your chips on the line, it’s best to fold and sit out for the rest of the hand.^{[5]
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- This is especially important if you’re playing in a tournament and have a limited set of chips. Folding on a bad hand when you’re under the gun saves your chips for betting on a stronger hand.

Section 3 of 4:

How to Play Under the Gun after the Flop

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Raise the bet if another player calls you. When a player calls your bet, it usually means they don’t have that strong of a hand but want to stay in the game. Up the ante and increase your bet to see how the other players respond.
- Some players may call even if they have a strong hand to increase the pot size. Show some restraint with how much you bet so you don’t get caught losing a lot of chips.
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Fold against a 3-bet if you have a weak hand. A 3-bet is when another player re-raises after you’ve already raised, which usually means they have a strong hand. If you have cards lower than an Ace and Jack, then it’s best to just fold and cut your losses instead of losing more chips.^{[6]
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- There’s a chance a player that raises your bet is bluffing, but most experienced players won’t risk losing more of their chips.
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Check a player that raised you to force their play. If you have a hand that’s an Ace and Jack or better, then check when it’s your turn. Checking means you don’t place a bid, so the other player has to decide if they want to raise the bid. If they raise it again, then it’s best to fold because there’s a good chance they have a really strong hand.
- If all the players check after the flop, then no bets are made and the next card is added to the middle of the table and a new bidding round starts.

Section 4 of 4:

Poker FAQ

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The button, or dealer, is usually considered the strongest position at a poker table because they’re the last player to act.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Alec Torelli
Professional Poker Player

Expert Interview} The button gets to see what all the other players have done on their turn, so they have the most insight on the players’ hand strengths.^{[8]
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LJ and HJ are other table positions, and they stand for Lojack and Hijack. The Lojack and Hijack players are usually the 6th and 7th players from the dealer, so they’re in the middle position of the table.^{[9]
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What is the unluckiest hand in poker? The hand that’s typically considered the worst in poker is 2 and 7 off-suit. These cards are low-valued and you’re not able to use them in a flush or straight, so it’s usually best to fold with this hand. Other weak hands include:
- 3 and 2
- 8 and 2
- 8 and 3
- 9 and 2

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Tips

Adjust your strategies based on how other players react and play out their hands. If you notice players are staying in with weaker hands, then it’s probably okay to raise a similar hand.

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“Straddling” is when you make a bet that’s double the big blind before you’re dealt cards. Unless other players have been straddling at the poker table, avoid doing it because you’re more likely to lose chips.

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