CO Cold Call

Overview

The CO Cold Call is a specific action in poker where a player in the cutoff (CO) position calls a raise from an earlier position without having previously invested chips in the pot (i.e., they were not in the blinds or limping). This is a strategic decision that often indicates a medium-strength hand or a hand that wants to see a flop cheaply but is not strong enough to re-raise.

Strategic Implications

Cold calling from the cutoff is less common than 3-betting (re-raising) or folding because the cutoff is a late position with significant post-flop advantage. However, players may cold call for several reasons:

• Deception: To disguise hand strength or to induce action from the blinds or button.
• Position: The cutoff has positional leverage over the original raiser and the blinds, making it profitable to see flops with speculative hands.
• Implied Odds: Hands like suited connectors or small pairs that can flop big draws or sets may warrant a cold call if the raise is small and stacks are deep.
• Avoiding Isolation: If the original raiser is tight, cold calling can keep others in the pot, increasing potential payoff.

Typical Ranges

In modern GTO-oriented poker, the CO cold call range is often narrow. Typical hands include:

• Suited connectors: e.g., 87s, 98s, T9s
• Suited aces: e.g., A2s-A5s (sometimes)
• Small to medium pairs: e.g., 22-77
• Some broadway hands: e.g., KJs, QJs (occasionally, to balance)

Hands like AQo, KQo, or TT+ are usually 3-bet for value, while weak hands like KTo are folded.

Considerations

• Stack Sizes: Deep stacks encourage cold calling with speculative hands; short stacks make it less profitable.
• Opponent Tendencies: Against aggressive opponents who 3-bet often, cold calling can be risky; against passive ones, it's safer.
• Blinds: If the blinds are aggressive, cold calling may lead to being squeezed (raised again from behind), so a 3-bet or fold might be better.

Related Terminology

• Cold Call: Calling a raise without prior investment in the pot.
• Cutoff (CO): The seat to the right of the button; a late position with significant power.
• 3-bet: The first re-raise (after an initial raise).
• Squeeze Play: A re-raise after multiple callers, often from the blinds.
• Overcall: Calling after another player has already called.