Fold to Steal from CO

Overview

Fold to Steal from CO is a positional sub-statistic of the broader Fold to Steal stat commonly used in online poker tracking software (e.g., Hold’em Manager, PokerTracker). It specifically tracks how often a player folds when a steal-raise originates from the Cutoff (CO) seat. The player is assumed to be in the small blind (SB) or big blind (BB), as these are the positions facing a steal attempt.

Usage in HUDs

Poker HUDs display this stat to help players understand opponents’ tendencies against late-position aggression. A high fold percentage indicates that the player frequently surrenders their blind to CO raises, making them a profitable target for steals. Conversely, a low fold percentage suggests they defend aggressively (via calls or three-bets), discouraging steals from that position.

Typical ranges:

• Tight/passive: >80% fold to steal from CO
• Average: 60–80%
• Aggressive/defensive: <60%

These values vary by game type, stakes, and player pool. For example, in low-stakes games, players often fold too much (e.g., 85%+), while in high-stakes games, defenses are more balanced.

Strategic Implications

• Exploiting high fold rates: If an opponent folds to CO steals frequently (e.g., >80%), you can profitably raise almost any two cards from the CO when they are in the blinds. Your steal success rate increases, and you can widen your range.
• Adjusting to low fold rates: Against a player who rarely folds (e.g., <60%), you should tighten your CO stealing range, or prepare to play post-flop with marginal hands. You might also consider employing larger raise sizes to reduce their incentive to defend.
• Combining with other stats: Use this stat alongside Fold to Steal from BTN and Fold to Steal from SB to identify positional weaknesses. A player who folds a lot to CO steals but less to BTN steals might be more aware of button aggression.

Limitations

• Sample size: The stat is only meaningful with a sufficient number of opportunities (typically >20). Small samples can be misleading due to variance.
• Context: It does not differentiate between the small blind and big blind; some players defend differently from each. For a finer view, look at BB Fold to Steal from CO and SB Fold to Steal from CO separately.
• Game type: Stat values differ between cash games and tournaments (due to ICM pressure). In tournaments, fold rates are generally higher, especially near the money.

Related Terms

• Fold to Steal – The overall version of this stat, aggregated across all steal positions (CO, BTN, SB).
• Fold to 3Bet – Frequency of folding to a three-bet, often used alongside steal defense.
• Steal – A raise intended to take the blinds, typically from late position.