Cold Call from HJ

Overview

Cold Call refers to a situation in a poker hand where a player who has not yet posted any blinds (or posted only already-entered blinds) calls a raise from another player. Cold Call from HJ specifically denotes this action occurring from the Hijack position (typically the seat to the right of Under the Gun in a 6-max table).

Strategic Implications

A cold call from the Hijack generally represents a strong range because there are still players behind (CO, BTN, and blinds) who have yet to act. The cold-calling player faces the risk of being squeezed (3-bet) by later positions. Typical cold-calling ranges include:

• Medium-strong pairs (e.g., TT, 99)
• Suited connectors or gap-suited connectors (e.g., JTs, T9s)
• Some A-suited hands (e.g., AJs, ATs)

Notes

• Cold calling is more passive than raising directly from an early position, but it can disguise hand strength.
• Players in later positions may exploit this information by squeezing, so the cold caller must assess when to protect their hand.
• In cash games and tournaments, ICM pressure can alter the frequency of cold calls.

Related Strategies

• Squeeze (Squeeze): A large raise from a later position exploiting multiple callers. The cold-calling position is the most vulnerable to squeezes.
• 3-bet: A re-raise against the cold caller's raise.