On the Button

'On the Button' is a term used in poker to refer to the player who acts last in a betting round. This position, marked by a disc or 'button', rotates clockwise after each hand.

What is On the Button in Poker?

Being 'On the Button' in poker means you are currently in the dealer's position and will act last in the betting round. This term is used across various poker variants, including Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and Seven-Card Stud.

The player 'On the Button' has a strategic advantage as they get to see how all other players act before they have to make a decision. This allows them to make more informed decisions based on the actions of the other players. There are also fewer players to act behind, so raising from the button can be advantageous as if the players behind don't have a calling hand, they will likely fold, regardless of how strong or weak your hand is. This is called stealing the blinds and is an effective strategy deployed by many pros. However, you must pick your times to do this carefully. If you consistently try to steal the blinds On the Button, opponents will work out what you're doing and will start calling your bluff.

Example of "On the Button"

For instance, if a player 'On the Button' observes that all players before them have folded, they might decide to raise in an attempt to steal the blinds.

In another situation, a player 'On the Button' might choose to call rather than raise after seeing several players before them make big raises, indicating strong hands.

• "I decided to raise when I was On the Button and everyone else had folded."
• "He was On the Button and chose to fold after seeing several players raise."
• "She was able to make a more informed decision because she was On the Button."