If you are new to poker or haven’t played in a while, the rules of who acts first in a hand may be confusing. The order of betting in any game of poker is determined by a number of factors, including position and the size of the blinds. Understanding the rules of who acts first is crucial to playing the game correctly and winning more often than not.
Who Acts First in Poker
When you are sitting down at a poker table, the first person to act is always the player to the left of the button. The button is a small disc that moves around the table with each hand in a clockwise direction. The button is also called the dealer.
The next player to act is the person to the right of the button. This person is the big blind and is forced to make a large bet before being dealt cards. The player in the big blind is last to act before the flop, but first on all subsequent betting rounds.
After the big blind, players are in the middle positions of the game, which include the cutoff and the small blind. The player in the cutoff is the first to act in a post-flop betting round, and the small blind is next. The player in the small blind can choose whether to call or raise.
A player can also “open” a betting round, meaning they make the first voluntary bet. However, some games have special rules about opening a round.
The order of play changes slightly when there is a straddle. A straddle is when the player seated just to the left of the big blind (usually UTG) posts a double big blind bet before the cards are dealt. This player buys the right to act last before the flop. The player in this position is sometimes referred to as the bring-in.
Preflop, the order of play remains the same. The player to the left of the button acts first, and then the big blind follows. In a heads up hand, the order of play is reversed and the button acts first before the flop and then the small blind follows in all post-flop betting rounds.
What Happens if the Player Acts Out of Turn
Most actions in poker, such as calls and raises, are made out-of-turn. When a player makes a move out of turn, they give information to other players that would not normally be available. Typically, players should only raise or call out of turn when they think they have the best possible hand.
The person who acts out of turn should only do so when they have a strong hand, or want to try to improve their hand. Otherwise, they should pass and let other players take their turns. This will improve their chances of winning the hand. It is also important to know how to read your opponents and determine their strengths.