Cutoff
What Does Cutoff Mean in Poker?
In poker, the ‘Cutoff’ is the position immediately to the right of the dealer button. It is considered a strong position because the player acts last in the betting rounds after the flop, turn, and river, except for the dealer. Players in the cutoff can take advantage of late position strategy, often attempting to steal blinds with aggressive play.
When You Might Hear Or Use The Term Cutoff
The term ‘Cutoff’ is commonly mentioned during discussions about position strategy, especially when players talk about their advantages in late position and how to exploit those in cash games and tournaments.
In-Game Example
Imagine you are in a Texas Hold’em game, and you are seated immediately to the right of the dealer button. The action folds to you, and you decide to raise with a marginal hand like K9, taking advantage of your position to pressure the blinds into folding.
Strategy / Tips
- Best Practice: Use the cutoff position to open up your range for raises, taking advantage of players in the blinds who have yet to act.
- Common Mistake: Overplaying weak hands in the cutoff, especially when players in the blinds are aggressive or tricky.
- Pro Tips: Pay attention to the tendencies of the players in the blinds and adjust your strategy accordingly. In online play, use HUD stats to identify when blinds are tight and more likely to fold.
- Differences playing over the table vs online: Live players may rely more on physical tells, while online players have access to data and past hand history.
Alternative Names
None commonly used.
FAQs
Q: Why is the cutoff position advantageous?
A: The cutoff position allows players to act after most of the table, providing opportunities to make informed decisions based on the actions of others.
Q: How does cutoff strategy differ in tournaments vs cash games?
A: In tournaments, stack sizes and ICM considerations may influence cutoff play more heavily, while cash games focus more on maximizing value and exploiting opponents over time.
