Button

Definition

The button — sometimes called "the dealer" or just "BTN" — is the seat marked by a small disk that rotates one spot clockwise after every hand. In a casino or online game, a professional dealer handles the cards, but the button still indicates who is the "theoretical" dealer for that hand. The player on the button acts last in every round of betting after the flop, which makes it the single most powerful seat at the table.

Example

There are six players at your table. You're on the button this hand. Before the flop, the small blind and big blind post their forced bets, then everyone else acts — but you're last to act pre-flop too, just before the blinds. After the flop comes out, the small blind acts first, then the big blind, then everyone else... and you act last. You get to see what every single player does before you have to decide anything. One player bets, another calls, and now it's your turn — armed with all that information, you can make a much smarter decision than anyone who had to act before you.

Why It Matters

Being on the button is such an advantage that experienced players play noticeably more hands from this position. When you act last, you gather information: who checked (showing weakness), who bet (showing strength), and how much. That information is enormously valuable. As a beginner, a simple rule to follow is: you can play more hands and be more aggressive when you're on the button than from any other position. Conversely, when you're out of position (acting early), you should be more conservative. Position is one of the most important concepts in poker, and the button is its most extreme example.