Against CO Steal: Resteal Strategy Guide

What is Resteal?

Resteal refers to a play where you re-raise from the blinds when an opponent opens from the cutoff (CO) or an earlier position. The opponent’s steal range is typically wide, meaning your resteal can generate a significant fold equity. However, to be profitable, you need to understand position, ranges, stack depth, and opponent tendencies.

Why Target CO Steals?

• The CO is a classic steal position: With only the BU and blinds behind, the CO’s opening range is wider than MP’s, including many medium-strength hands.
• Blind players have a positional disadvantage: However, restealing can force the opponent to fold the pot, or put you in a favorable postflop position? Actually, you act first postflop (if called), so you’re at a disadvantage. Thus, restealing relies heavily on preflop fold equity.
• Typical CO steal range (CO vs blinds): About 40% of hands (depending on opponent). If the opponent steals frequently, your resteal range can be wider.

Constructing a Resteal Range

Core Principles:

• Use a polarized range: Include strong hands (TT+, AQ+) and some bluffs (e.g., A2s-A5s, small suited connectors, suited gappers). Strong hands for value, bluffs for balance.
• Avoid restealing with medium-strength hands (like KQo, ATo) because you’ll be at a positional disadvantage postflop and susceptible to domination.
• When the opponent has a high fold-to-resteal rate, expand your bluff component; when they call frequently, tighten to value hands only.

By Stack Depth:

• Deep Stack (>100BB): You can widen your resteal range because implied odds are high, but be aware opponents may call with a wide range. Suggested range: Value (99+, AQ+), Bluff (A2s-A5s, 54s-76s, K8s-K9s).
• Medium Stack (40-100BB): Reduce bluff component because opponents may call with medium pairs or suited connectors. Suggested range: Value (TT+, AK), Bluff (A2s-A5s, 67s-89s).
• Short Stack (<40BB): Restealing should be limited to all-ins or large bets, where fold equity is highest. Suggested range: All-in over any raise (22+, AX, KQ+).

Exploitative Adjustments

• Against Tight-Passive opponents: CO’s steal range is narrow (approx 20-25%), but fold equity is high. You can resteal with a wider range, including many bluffs.
• Against Loose-Aggressive opponents: CO’s steal range is wide (approx 40-50%), but they call frequently. Reduce bluffs and mainly resteal with value hands.
• Against Passive Calling Stations: Avoid resteal bluffs as they call often. Only resteal for value and play straightforward postflop.
• Against Regs who steal often: They may adjust to your resteals. Mix up your strategy—sometimes call with medium hands, sometimes resteal.

Practical Examples

Example 1: 100NL, effective 100BB. CO (tight-passive) opens to 3BB. You have A♠5♠ in the BB.

• Analysis: CO’s fold-to-resteal is high. A5s has good blocker effects (blocking AA, AK, AQ), so resteal to 9-10BB.
• If CO calls, continue aggressively if you flop a flush draw or straight draw; otherwise fold.

Example 2: 50BB shallow, CO (loose-aggressive) opens to 2.5BB. You have 99 in the SB.

• Analysis: At short stacks, 99 is strong enough to jam your remaining chips (approx 7-8BB). The loose-aggressive opponent may call with many medium hands, giving you sufficient equity.

Key Takeaways

• Resteal sizing: Typically 3-4x the opponent’s raise (e.g., if CO opens 3BB, resteal to 9-12BB). Slightly larger for deep stacks; go all-in for short stacks.
• Blockers: Prioritize bluff resteals with hands containing A or K, as they reduce the opponent’s probability of having a strong hand.
• Position: Restealing from the BB is better than from the SB because of lower investment and better pot odds (you’ve already put in 1BB). Restealing from the SB requires more caution due to less investment and worse postflop position.

Summary

Restealing against CO steals is a highly profitable preflop technique. The key is to dynamically adjust your range based on opponent tendencies and stack depth. Don’t use a fixed range mechanically—learn to exploit opponents’ leaks.