Strategy Article: Cutoff Opening Range Guide

Position Description

The Cutoff (CO) is located to the right of the Button (BTN) and is the second-last position to act preflop. Since only the BTN, Small Blind (SB), and Big Blind (BB) remain to act after the CO, and the BTN has a better position, the CO’s opening strategy must balance exploiting the blinds while defending against the BTN’s cold calls or re-raises. In 6-max or full-ring games, the CO is typically considered a “second-best position,” but with a well-designed range, it can still generate significant positive expected value (EV).

Recommended Range

For a typical online cash game (100bb effective stacks, no specific reads), the CO’s open-raise range should include approximately 22%-25% of hands. The following is a recommended breakdown by hand type:

• Pairs: All pocket pairs (22-AA). Low pairs (22-66) primarily rely on set-mining value postflop, but their playability in poor position should be considered.
• Suited Connectors: All suited connectors (54s+ to AKs), plus some strong one-gap suited connectors (e.g., 86s, 97s, etc.).
• Suited Aces: A2s+ (all suited aces). A2s-A5s have gutshot and backdoor flush potential, making them excellent semi-bluff hands.
• Unsuited Broadways: AJo+, KQo, and ATo (adjustable based on dynamics).
• Unsuited K/Q: KTo+, QJo+, and QTo (slightly looser).
• Others: A few medium-to-high suited connectors like J9s, T8s, and occasionally some non-pair small cards (e.g., A9o, K9s) for balance, but these should be used cautiously.

Range Construction Logic

The core logic of the CO range is “balance value and bluffs while leveraging position.” Specific considerations include:

• Position Advantage: The CO has a positional edge over the blinds but is inferior to the BTN. Therefore, the range should be slightly tighter than the BTN’s and slightly wider than the MP (middle position) range.
• Blind Exploitation: Against the SB and BB, the CO can include many hands they might call or fold to, such as A2s-A5s, small-to-medium suited connectors, applying postflop pressure with continuation bets (CBet).
• BTN Threat: The BTN is the only player with a pure positional advantage postflop. The CO should avoid playing large pots out of position against the BTN. Thus, the CO’s continuing range against a BTN cold call or 3bet should be strong.
• Playability: Hands should have reasonable playability postflop. For example, small suited connectors (54s) are easier to flop draws with on connected boards than A8o.

Adjustment Factors

In actual play, ranges should be adjusted based on opponent dynamics:

• BTN LAG (Loose-Aggressive): If the BTN frequently 3bets, the CO should tighten the range to avoid being exploited; reduce weak Ax and high cards, increase pairs and strong suited connectors.
• Passive Blinds: If the SB and BB have high fold rates or are prone to folding postflop, the CO can significantly widen the range, adding hands like A5o, K9o, etc.
• Stack Depth: Deep stacks (200bb+) increase the value of small pairs and suited connectors due to better implied odds; short stacks (30bb) should reduce low pairs and connectors, adding more high cards and big Ax.
• Tournament ICM: Near the money or final table, the CO range should tighten because the risk of elimination by the blinds is higher.

GTO Reference

According to modern GTO solvers (e.g., PioSolver, MonkerSolver), in a 100bb cash game with no ante, the CO’s GTO open-raise frequency is typically between 22% and 27%. A typical GTO range includes:

• All pairs (22+)
• All suited Ax (A2s+)
• All suited connectors (54s+) and some one-gappers (e.g., 86s+, 97s+)
• Unsuited broadways: AJo+, KQo, ATo (partial), KTo (partial)
• A few low suited broadways (e.g., K9s, Q9s) for balance

GTO emphasizes mixed strategies, e.g., sometimes raising AJo and sometimes folding, but in practice pure strategies can be used for simplicity.

Practical Application

• Consecutive Opens: If you are raising from the CO repeatedly, blinds may adjust. In that case, mix in slow-played strong hands (e.g., AA, KK) to counter 3bets.
• Postflop Technique: As the CO, the continuation bet frequency should exceed 60%, especially on dry boards (e.g., K-7-2 rainbow) and against passive opponents.
• Defending Against Re-raises: Facing a BTN 3bet, the CO’s 4bet range should focus on QQ+, AK, and a few A5s for balance; the calling range includes JJ-99, AQ, AJs, KQs, etc.
• Exploitation Example: If the SB is a tight-passive player, increase the opening size (e.g., 3bb + 1bb per blind) and add more junk hands; if the BB is a calling station, tighten the range but add more value hands, then use larger bet sizes postflop.

Remember: The CO range is not static; it adapts to opponents and dynamics. Frequently review your range selection during downswings to avoid mechanical execution.