Under the gun (UTG)
Also: UTG, first position
The seat that acts first before the flop, immediately to the left of the big blind. With the whole table still to act behind, it is the least comfortable position to enter a pot from, which is why opening ranges there are the tightest at the table.
The name comes from the pressure of acting with no information. At a nine-handed table a solid opening range from under the gun is a small fraction of hands; six-handed it widens, and in a three-handed game the position does not exist at all. The two seats to its left are usually called UTG+1 and UTG+2 or the lojack and hijack.
Because an under-the-gun raise is read as strong, the position is also where a well-timed wider open earns extra folds — but only against opponents who are actually paying attention to who opened.
Related terms
Full glossaryFrequently asked questions
Which seat is under the gun?
The one directly to the left of the big blind, which acts first in the preflop betting round.
Why are under-the-gun ranges so tight?
Every other player still gets to act after you, so weak hands face raises far more often than they would in late position.