CO 100bb Steal

Overview

The term "CO 100bb Steal" refers to a common strategic play in no-limit hold'em cash games or tournaments where the player in the cut-off position (the seat immediately to the right of the button) opens with a raise when all previous players have folded, and the effective stack sizes are around 100 big blinds.

The Cutoff Position

The cutoff (CO) is considered a late position and offers significant advantages: the player acts after most of the table but before the button and blinds. From CO, a steal raise can exploit the fact that the blinds (especially the big blind) will often fold marginal hands to avoid playing out of position.

Stack Depth of 100bb

100 big blinds is a standard deep stack in cash games. At this depth, both the raiser and the blinds have enough chips to play postflop with implied odds. A 100bb stack encourages more preflop aggression because the risk/reward of stealing (usually 2.5-3.5bb to win 1.5bb) is favorable when the blinds fold often enough. However, deep stacks also mean that blinds may defend with a wider range if they believe the raiser is stealing light, so the stealer must be selective.

Steal Strategy

A typical CO steal range at 100bb might include about 30-40% of hands, consisting of: strong hands (TT+, AQ+), medium suited connectors (65s+), broadways (KQo, ATo), and some weak aces and suited gappers. The exact range depends on the tendencies of the blinds. If the blinds fold too much, the CO can widen the range; if they defend aggressively, the CO should tighten and possibly include more hands that play well postflop in position.

Against a 3-bet from the blinds, the CO must have a defense strategy (calling or 4-betting) that balances value and bluffs. At 100bb, 4-bet bluffs with hands like A5s or small pairs are common.

Postflop Considerations

When the steal is called, the CO retains positional advantage. The CO’s continuation betting range should be polarized: strong hands for value and draws or weak hands as bluffs. Board texture and opponent tendencies dictate frequency. The CO should avoid c-betting too often on dry boards against calling stations.

Adjusting to Opponents

• Against tight blinds: Steal very wide (over 40% of hands).
• Against loose blinds who call a lot: Steal with hands that play well postflop (suited connectors, high card strength) and reduce bluffs.
• Against aggressive 3-bettors: Tighten the opening range and include 4-bet bluffs; consider limping some hands to induce.

Conclusion

The CO 100bb steal is a fundamental profit center in poker. Mastering it requires understanding ranges, opponent tendencies, and postflop play. A successful steal strategy increases win rate by capturing blinds and building pots in position. Overuse without adjustment can be exploited, so constant table awareness is essential.