The BTN (Button) is the seat with the dealer disc in front of it, also called the Dealer.

It is the only seat at the table that acts last after the flop against anyone. For most players who have played a long time, the seat that wins them the most money over the long run is the button.

1. What Makes This Seat Different

BTN (six-max)
Preflop Acts 4th, with only the 2 blinds left behind
Postflop Always acts last, in position against anyone
Default opening range 46.9% (tied with the small blind as the widest at the table)

The button’s advantage is two things stacked together:

  1. Preflop there are only two players left behind you, and both were forced to put their money in, which says nothing about whether they have a hand
  2. Both of them act before you after the flop. Even if you get called, you have position for the next three streets

Why position is worth so much is explained in full in Why Good Players Love the Button: In Position vs Out of Position (IP/OOP).

2. Why You Can Open Nearly Half Your Hands

The default button opening range in RushCraft’s preflop trainer:

22+, A2o+, A2s+, K7o+, K2s+, Q9o+, Q2s+, J9o+, J4s+, T9o, T5s+, 98o, 95s+, 85s+, 74s+, 63s+, 53s+, 43s

Every pocket pair, every hand with an ace, every suited king and every suited queen, and even 63s and 43s. On the 13x13 grid that lights up 99 squares, 46.9% of all starting hands, four times the range of Under the Gun (UTG).

These hands are playable on the button not because they have become stronger, but because they do not often need to win at showdown:

  • Both blinds often just fold, and you take the pot without playing
  • If you get called, you have position after the flop and can watch your opponent act before deciding whether to continue

The full grid is in the preflop range charts.

3. The Steal Target

When everyone in front of you folds and you raise first in, that is a steal. The button is the best seat at the table for it, with a target ATS of roughly 43% to 48% (what ATS is).

Adjust that target to the blinds: if both blinds rarely defend, you can open wider than the chart; if the big blind 3-bets you often, tighten your range.

4. Three Ways to Waste the Button

1. Too tight. Everyone folds to you and you only open hands like AK and QQ — you are playing the best seat at the table as if it were under the gun. Opening too tight on the button will not make you lose money, but it costs you more winnings than any other leak, and nobody will ever point it out to you.

2. Limping or cold calling. The button makes its money by taking the initiative: getting people to fold and controlling the pot in position. Calling someone else’s open is not forbidden, but think about the fact that both blinds behind you can still raise (see what a cold call is).

3. Rushing in when you have position. The button’s advantage is acting last. When your opponent checks to you after the flop, you get to choose between betting and checking behind for a free card. Firing with everything straight away throws that choice away.

The button in one sentence: the best seat at the table, so use it with the widest range and the most initiative.