Cutoff Opening Range Guide

Position Scenario Explanation

The Cutoff (CO) is the second-most advantageous position in both 6-handed and 9-handed tables, behind only the Button (BU). The CO player has positional advantage post-flop and can directly observe the actions of the Button, Small Blind, and Big Blind. In a typical full-ring (9-handed) game, there are four players before the CO (UTG, UTG+1, MP, HJ) who have either acted or folded; in a 6-max game, usually the first two players have folded. The CO's opening range should be wider than early positions but tighter than the Button.

Recommended Range

Suggested CO opening range (for standard 9-handed table, no special stack/opponent dynamics):

• All pairs: 22+, including low pairs.
• All suited Aces: A2s+, including A2s, A3s, A4s, A5s and other small suited aces.
• All offsuit Aces: A9o+, i.e., A9o through AKo.
• All suited connectors: 45s+, i.e., 45s through AKs, plus suited one-gappers (e.g., J9s, T8s, 97s, 86s, 75s, 64s, 53s).
• Some offsuit connectors: T9o, 98o, etc., added situationally.
• Kx suited: K9s+.
• Kx offsuit: KTo+.
• Qx suited: Q9s+.
• Qx offsuit: QJo+.
• Jx suited: J9s+.
• Jx offsuit: JTo+.

Total range covers approximately 25%-30% of hand combinations.

Range Construction Logic

The CO range is built on two core factors: positional advantage and the need to defend against counterattacks from the Button and blinds. The CO's raising range should include all profitable hands while balancing strong and weak holdings.

• Pairs (22+): Low and middle pairs can flop sets for high returns, and positional advantage avoids difficult post-flop situations.
• Suited connectors and one-gappers: Use position to create playability post-flop, such as open-ended straight draws or flush draws.
• Weak suited Aces (A2s-A5s): Important semi-bluff hands that can hit strong draws or made hands, and have blocking effects.
• Weak offsuit Ax (A6o-A9o) and KTo etc.: Use with caution, as they are easily dominated post-flop, but can still be profitable in high-fold-equity situations.

Adjustment Factors

The actual range should be adjusted based on the following factors:

• Opponent style: If the Button and blinds are very aggressive, tighten the range, especially folding weak offsuit Ax and marginal suited connectors. If opponents are passive, widen the range to include more suited one-gappers.
• Stack depth: In shallow stacks (<30BB), narrow the range, focusing on strong hands and high-value holdings; in deep stacks (>100BB), add more speculative hands like suited connectors.
• Number of players: The range is slightly tighter in 9-handed games than in 6-handed, because there are more players ahead and different fold equity.
• Dynamics: If you have been opening frequently, opponents may adjust. Consider balancing by occasionally including marginal hands.

GTO Reference

Theoretically, the GTO CO opening range is about 25%-30%. Specifically, in 6-handed games, software like PokerSnowie suggests approximately 28% opening frequency; in 9-handed games, it is slightly lower around 25%. However, GTO is not a fixed formula and should be deviated from based on actual conditions. For example, against tight-passive opponents, you can open wider; against loose-aggressive ones, tighten up. In normal situations, using about 26% range is a balanced starting point.

Practical Application

Example 1: 9-handed, effective stacks 100BB, all players fold to the CO. Holding A5s (suited A5) is in the recommended range, so you can standard raise to 3BB. If the Button calls, flop comes K♠7♦2♣. You can c-bet representing an overpair or top pair, even if you missed, possibly forcing a fold. If the Button folds, you take the pot simply.

Example 2: Holding T9s, flop comes 8♣7♠2♦. You have an open-ended straight draw. You can use position to bet or check-raise. If the opponent checks, you can choose to bet as a semi-bluff; if the opponent bets, you can call to draw, and apply pressure on the turn or river with remaining chips.

Common mistakes: Frequently raising with weak offsuit hands like QJo, KTo in the CO, which often leads to difficult post-flop situations when called by later players. Especially against a tight-aggressive Button or blinds, these hands are often dominated. Adjust based on opponents and fold when necessary.