CO 150bb Push Fold

Overview

Push fold is a simplified preflop strategy where a player either moves all-in or folds, eliminating calls. It is most common in tournament poker with short stacks (typically under 20 big blinds) where postflop play is limited. However, the term "CO 150bb Push Fold" refers to applying this binary decision framework to the cutoff (CO) position with a relatively deep stack of 150 big blinds.

Usage Context

At 150bb, standard play involves raising, calling, and 3-betting with a wide range. A push/fold approach at this depth is rarely optimal in cash games or early tournament stages. It may arise in specific tournament spots with:

• Extreme ICM pressure (e.g., near the money bubble)
• Very large antes that reduce effective stack-to-pot ratios
• Solver output for narrow, balanced strategies against aggressive opponents

Cutoff Position

The cutoff (one seat before the button) is a strong position because it acts after most players and can steal blinds. With 150bb, typical cutoff opening ranges are wide (e.g., 30-40% of hands). A push/fold strategy would drastically tighten this range, often to hands that are comfortable getting called by the blinds (e.g., TT+, AQ+). The exact range depends on opponent tendencies and ICM factors, but is narrower than standard opening ranges.

Limitations

• True push/fold at 150bb is nearly always suboptimal in equilibrium play because it forfeits the ability to see a flop and realize equity with speculative hands.
• The term may originate from training tools or solved ranges for extreme conditions; players should not adopt it without understanding the specific assumptions.

Related Concepts

• Push/Fold: A strategy of only going all-in or folding, common with short stacks.
• Cutoff (CO): The seat to the right of the button.
• Big Blinds (bb): Unit of stack depth.
• ICM (Independent Chip Model): A model for valuing tournament chips, often driving push/fold decisions.