Hijack (HJ) (HJ)

Also known as: Hijack, HJ

The seat two off the button, just right of the cutoff. Ranges widen here — it is the first of the late, steal-oriented positions.

The hijack (HJ) is the seat two off the button, directly to the right of the cutoff. The name comes from the idea of hijacking a steal that the cutoff or button might otherwise make — you raise from a slightly earlier seat to take down the blinds first.

It marks the start of the late positions. With only three players left to act behind you (cutoff, button, and the blinds), the math tilts in your favor:

• Wider RFI range: fewer hands behind means less domination risk, so you open meaningfully looser than under the gun — adding suited connectors, more broadways, and weaker aces.
• Steal pressure begins: HJ, CO, and BTN are the steal positions where attacking the blinds becomes a primary source of profit.

Still, the hijack is not the cutoff. Two players with position on you remain, so you can't open the truly wide button range. A common leak is treating HJ like CO and over-opening into two players who can flat or 3-bet you in position. Calibrate: wider than UTG, but tighter than CO.