Call Cold
What Does Call Cold Mean in Poker?
A call cold refers to the action of calling a bet or multiple bets without having previously invested any chips in the pot during the current betting round. It typically occurs when a player calls a raise and one or more re-raises.
When You Might Hear Or Use The Term Call Cold:
This term is commonly mentioned when discussing preflop situations in games such as Texas Hold’em, where a player might call a raise and a subsequent re-raise without having been involved in the pot previously.
In-Game Example:
Imagine you’re sitting in a cash game and a player in early position raises. Another player re-raises, and you, holding pocket sixes in the cutoff, decide to call cold the two bets, entering the pot without prior investment.
Strategy / Tips:
- Best Practice: Call cold in situations where you have a strong hand or the pot odds justify a speculative call, especially when expecting to see the flop multi-way.
- Common Mistake: Calling cold with weak hands that dont have good post-flop playability or when out of position.
- Pro Tips: Use call cold strategically to balance your range and avoid becoming too predictable. Against aggressive opponents, this can allow you to trap with strong hands.
- Differences playing over the table vs online: Online, players tend to be more aggressive, so adjust your cold calling range accordingly. Live games often provide more reads on player tendencies, which can influence your decision to call cold.
Alternative Names:
No widely recognized alternative names exist for ‘call cold,’ but it may sometimes be referred to simply as ‘cold calling.’
FAQs:
- Q: Is calling cold a profitable play?
A: It can be profitable if done with the right hand selection and in the right situations, such as when the pot odds are favorable or when you can exploit aggressive opponents.
Related Terms:
Additional Context: Online Poker Considerations
When playing online poker, its crucial to adapt your strategy to the dynamics of the virtual environment. Players often exhibit different behaviors compared to live games, such as increased aggression or the use of timing tells. Understanding these nuances can enhance your ability to make profitable decisions, including when to call cold.
