Stealing Range from Cutoff

Overview

Stealing from the cutoff is a fundamental poker strategy, particularly in no-limit hold'em. The cutoff (CO) is one seat to the right of the button, giving it positional advantage over the blinds and limpers. When the action folds to the CO, they can open with a wider range to collect the blinds and antes, a play known as "blind stealing."

Factors Influencing the Stealing Range

The exact range depends on several variables:

• Stack sizes: With deeper stacks (100+ big blinds), the range can be wider because post-flop playability matters more. With shorter stacks, hands that play well all-in or with minimal post-flop decisions are preferred.
• Opponent tendencies: Tight or passive blinds allow a wider range, while aggressive or calling-station blinds require a tighter range to avoid being 3-bet or called frequently.
• Table dynamics: If the table is folding often, the range expands. In tougher games, players adjust ranges to avoid exploitation.
• ICM considerations: In tournaments near the bubble or with pay jumps, the stealing range may tighten due to increased risk.

Typical Stealing Range

A common GTO-inspired stealing range from the cutoff includes approximately 25-30% of hands. Example (in percentage terms):

• Pairs: 22+ (all pocket pairs)
• Suited aces: A2s+ (all suited aces)
• Suited broadways: K9s+, Q9s+, J9s+, T9s, 98s, 87s, 76s
• Offsuit broadways: ATo+, KTo+, QTo+, JTo
• Some suited connectors like 65s, 54s may be included if the blinds are passive.

This range gives a strong equity advantage pre-flop and post-flop playability. It is wider than an early position range (e.g., under the gun) but narrower than the button's stealing range, which can be 40%+.

Adjustments and Exploitation

• Against loose 3-bettors: Tighten the range, especially by removing weak offsuit hands (e.g., QTo, JTo) and low suited connectors.
• Against passive blinds: Add more speculative hands like low suited connectors (65s, 54s) and even some suited one-gappers (97s, 86s) to exploit folds.
• vs. frequent callers: Favor hands with strong post-flop playability (suited and connected) rather than weak offsuit hands.
• Short stacks: If blinds are short, raising small pairs (22-66) may be less profitable because they are unlikely to fold and face difficult flops. Instead, prefer hands that hold up better all-in, like A8o+ or K9o+.

GTO vs. Exploitative

Game Theory Optimal (GTO) ranges for the cutoff are balanced to prevent exploitation, often including a mix of value hands and bluffs. However, in practice, exploitative adjustments based on opponent tendencies yield higher win rates. For example, if the big blind folds to steals 70%+ of the time, you can open any two cards profitably. But against a big blind who defends 50%+, you must tighten significantly.

Conclusion

Mastering the stealing range from the cutoff is essential for a winning poker strategy. Players should start with a solid default range, then adjust based on stack sizes, opponent behavior, and game flow. Regular review of hand histories and ranges will help refine steal attempts and improve overall profitability.