Load position on triac ac circuit
Figure 1. Triac trigger voltage must be beween the gate and MT1, the adjacent pin on the symbol.
If you need to put R1 between MT1 and ground then you need a floating trigger. If you can't have a floating trigger then your load has to go in the R2 position.

When the triac is open the current should be the same through both.

Be careful with language here. &quot;Open&quot; in an electrical circuit means non-conducting. Look up &quot;normally open&quot; contact for more on this.