The Cut-Off (CO) is a crucial position in poker, located immediately to the right of the Dealer Button. In most poker variants, particularly Texas Hold’em and Omaha, this means the Cut-Off acts second-to-last post-flop, only before the Button. This position provides a significant positional advantage over all players in early and middle positions, allowing for a wider range of playable hands and more control over the pot.
Example
Imagine a 9-handed No-Limit Hold’em cash game. The Dealer Button is on Player A. Player B is seated immediately to Player A’s right. Player B is in the Cut-Off position. Pre-flop, the action folds around to Player B (the CO), who decides to raise. Post-flop, if Player B sees a flop, they will act after all players between them and the blinds (Small Blind and Big Blind), but before Player A (the Button). This means Player B gets to see what most opponents do before making their own decision.
Strategy Tip
The Cut-Off is one of the most profitable positions at the poker table, second only to the Button. From the CO, you should significantly widen your opening range compared to early or middle positions. This is because you have position on most of the table, allowing you to control the pot, extract value, and bluff more effectively post-flop. It’s an excellent spot to “steal” the blinds, as you only have the Button and the two blinds left to act behind you. However, always be mindful of the player on the Button; a strong or aggressive Button player might frequently 3-bet your opens, so adjust your range and strategy accordingly.
FAQ
- Q: Why is it called “Cut-Off”?
- A: Historically, before automatic shufflers were common, the player to the immediate right of the dealer would “cut” the deck after it was shuffled. This traditional role gave the position its name.
- Q: How does the Cut-Off differ from the Button?
- A: While both are strong positions, the Cut-Off acts *before* the Button pre-flop. Post-flop, the Cut-Off acts second-to-last, whereas the Button is the absolute last to act, giving the Button the ultimate positional advantage. The CO has position on everyone except the BTN.
- Q: What kind of hands should I play from the Cut-Off?
- A: You can play a much wider range of hands from the Cut-Off than from early positions. This includes strong premium hands, a broad selection of suited connectors (e.g., 76s, 98s), smaller pocket pairs, and suited aces. The exact range should be adjusted based on table dynamics, stack sizes, and the tendencies of the players still to act behind you, especially the Button.