Cold call
What Does Cold call Mean in Poker?
In poker, a cold call occurs when a player calls a bet after one or more other players have already called, without having contributed to the pot in the current round.
When You Might Hear Or Use The Term Cold call
During a poker game, you might hear or use the term “cold call” when a player joins the betting action after the initial bet and one or more calls have been made, but before the round is over.
In-Game Example
Imagine you’re playing a Texas Hold’em game. The player under the gun raises, another player calls, and you, sitting on the button, decide to call as well. This action of calling when you’ve not yet committed chips to the pot in this round is called a cold call.
Strategy / Tips
- Best Practice: Cold call with hands that play well in multi-way pots, like suited connectors or small pairs.
- Common Mistake: Cold calling too often with hands that don’t have good implied odds, leading to difficult post-flop decisions.
- Pro Tips: Use cold calls strategically to disguise the strength of your hand and to set up potential bluffing opportunities or draws.
- Differences playing over the table vs online: In live games, you can use physical tells to gauge the strength of other cold callers. Online, focus on betting patterns and timing tells.
Alternative names
Cold calling might also be referred to simply as “calling cold” in some poker circles.
FAQs
Q: Is cold calling a sign of a weak player?
A: Not necessarily. While it can indicate inexperience, skilled players also cold call strategically in certain situations.
