Poker Glossary
Poker glossary

Cutoff (CO)

The cutoff is the seat directly to the right of the button and the second-best position at the table.

The simple explanation

The cutoff sits one seat before the button. It acts second to last after the flop. If the button folds before the flop, the cutoff effectively becomes the last player to act, so the cutoff can play more hands. The cutoff is often the best seat to steal from, because only the button and the blinds are left to act.

A closer look

The seat gets its name from its positional strength: when the button folds, the cutoff obtains the last action. The cutoff's opening range is wide, second only to the button. The next seat to the right is the hijack. Positions with later action are stronger because they have more information, so the cutoff has a significant advantage over earlier seats. In position against the blinds, the cutoff can raise with a wide range of hands.

A practical example

Four players are dealt in. The cutoff raises to 6, and the button and both blinds fold. The cutoff wins the blinds.

Full explanation

The cutoff is the seat directly to the right of the button and the second-best position at the table.

The cutoff is the position one seat to the right of the button. It is usually abbreviated CO. The seat before the cutoff is the hijack.

It acts after most players and sees what they do before making its own decision. After the flop, only the button acts later, so the cutoff has the second-best position.

If the button folds, the cutoff effectively has the last action on later streets. That is one reason why the cutoff can raise a wide range of hands, and why it is a common seat for stealing the blinds.

If the button is a tight player, the cutoff can open even wider.

Alternative spelling: Cutoff, Cut-off, Cut off, CO

The cutoff

No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake

Read the full hand transcript

Player A has the button (BTN). Player B posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player C posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).

  1. Preflop · Pot: 3 chips

    The blinds are 1 and 2 chips.

    • Player A BTN King of hearts (Kh)Jack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
    • Player B SB 8 of clubs (8c)4 of spades (4s) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
    • Player C BB Queen of diamonds (Qd)3 of hearts (3h) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
    • Player D Ace of spades (As)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
  2. Preflop · Pot: 9 chips

    Player D is in the cutoff, the seat just before the button. She raises to 6.

    • Player A BTN King of hearts (Kh)Jack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 200 · In this round 0
    • Player B SB 8 of clubs (8c)4 of spades (4s) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
    • Player C BB Queen of diamonds (Qd)3 of hearts (3h) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
    • Player D Ace of spades (As)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
  3. Preflop · Pot: 9 chips

    Player A on the button folds.

    • Player A BTN King of hearts (Kh)Jack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Player B SB 8 of clubs (8c)4 of spades (4s) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
    • Player C BB Queen of diamonds (Qd)3 of hearts (3h) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
    • Player D Ace of spades (As)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
  4. Preflop · Pot: 9 chips

    Player B folds the small blind.

    • Player A BTN King of hearts (Kh)Jack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Player B SB 8 of clubs (8c)4 of spades (4s) · Stack 199 · In this round 1 · Folded
    • Player C BB Queen of diamonds (Qd)3 of hearts (3h) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
    • Player D Ace of spades (As)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
  5. Preflop · Pot: 5 chips

    Player C folds the big blind. Player D wins the blinds.

    • Player A BTN King of hearts (Kh)Jack of diamonds (Jd) · Stack 200 · In this round 0 · Folded
    • Player B SB 8 of clubs (8c)4 of spades (4s) · Stack 199 · In this round 1 · Folded
    • Player C BB Queen of diamonds (Qd)3 of hearts (3h) · Stack 198 · In this round 2 · Folded
    • Player D Ace of spades (As)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 198 · In this round 2

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