Opening the cutoff: your first wide stealing range
The cutoff is your first truly wide-open seat: with only three players behind you, a strong cutoff opening range lets you raise aggressively and pressure the blinds and button. If you're unsure exactly what the cutoff position is, start there; then master this range and you'll steal pots relentlessly while still opening plenty of value.
The launchpad seat
The cutoff sits one seat to the right of the button, with only three players left to act behind you: the button, the small blind, and the big blind. That's few enough opponents that you can open a wide, aggressive range and expect to take control of the hand more often than not.
How wide is wide?
A solid cutoff opening range is roughly 27-30% of all hands, noticeably wider than early or middle position but still tighter than the button (compare the seats on our starting hands chart). You're opening for value with strong hands and for steals with playable speculative hands, betting 2-2.5bb to keep it cheap when the blinds fold.
Attack the blinds and the button
Two of the three players behind you are the blinds, who are forced to defend out of position with weak ranges. Every time they fold, you win the pot uncontested. Only the button acts behind you with position, so a well-timed wide open pressures the entire table.
Range trainer
It's folded to you. Given your seat and your two cards, do you open-raise or fold? Drill it until the right answer is instant.
Do you open-raise or fold?
Range locked in.
You called 0 / 12 correctly. Position-perfect opening is one of the biggest, easiest edges in poker.
When to tighten up
Loosen against passive, fold-happy blinds who won't fight back. Tighten slightly against a habitually 3-betting button or aggressive blinds, trimming the weakest offsuit hands first while keeping your suited connectors and broadways that flop well.
- Open roughly 27-30% of hands from the cutoff, far wider than early or middle position.
- Add suited connectors and most broadways to attack the blinds and the button.
- Only three players act behind you, and two of them are forced blinds you can pressure.
- Use a small 2-2.5bb open and tighten against aggressive 3-bettors, cutting weak offsuit hands first.
Test yourself
Answer them all — 16/20 to pass. Every answer gets an explanation.
Where does the cutoff sit relative to the button?
The cutoff is immediately to the right of the button, acting just before it.
How many players act after the cutoff opens?
After the cutoff acts, the button, small blind, and big blind remain to act.
Roughly what percentage of hands is a solid cutoff opening range?
A standard cutoff RFI range is around 27-30% of all starting hands.
Compared to middle position, the cutoff opening range should be:
Fewer players act behind the cutoff, so you can open wider than in middle position.
Compared to the button, the cutoff opening range should be:
The button has one fewer player behind it, so it opens even wider than the cutoff.
Which hand type is specifically added to the cutoff range for its straight and flush potential?
Suited connectors flop draws and straights well and are strong cutoff opens in position.
A standard cutoff opening raise size is:
A small 2-2.5bb open keeps steals cheap while still pressuring the blinds.
Why can the cutoff profitably attack the blinds?
The blinds defend out of position with wide, weak ranges, so folds win you the pot.
Which of these opens from the cutoff for value?
AKs is a premium hand that opens from any position, including the cutoff.
Which broadway hand is a comfortable cutoff open?
Most broadways such as KJo open from the cutoff, unlike weak king-x or queen-x offsuit hands.
How should you adjust against very passive, fold-happy blinds?
Passive blinds fold often, so widening your steals extracts more free pots.
How should you adjust against an aggressive, frequently 3-betting button?
A 3-bet-happy button punishes marginal hands, so you cut the weakest offsuit opens first.
Which suited ace is a routine cutoff open?
Suited aces including A5s open from the cutoff for their flush and wheel potential.
What is the main advantage of opening the cutoff versus early position?
With only three seats behind, fewer players can wake up with a strong hand.
When you open the cutoff and only the blinds fold, the button acts with:
The button is the one seat that has position on the cutoff postflop.
Which of these is NOT a reason the cutoff opens wide?
The cutoff posts no blind; it opens wide because of position and few players behind.
Which hand is a marginal offsuit open you'd cut FIRST against aggression?
Weak offsuit hands like K9o are the first to fold to aggression, while strong suited and premium hands stay.
Pocket pairs in a cutoff opening range include:
Every pocket pair, even small ones like 22, opens from the cutoff.
Which best describes the cutoff's overall preflop identity?
The cutoff is a wide, aggressive position built for opening and stealing the blinds.
Why is a smaller open size (2-2.5bb) often preferred from the cutoff?
A small open risks fewer chips on frequent steal attempts while still applying pressure.
Review — all 20 questions & answers tap to expand
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Where does the cutoff sit relative to the button?
Answer One seat to the right of the button
The cutoff is immediately to the right of the button, acting just before it.
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How many players act after the cutoff opens?
Answer Three: the button and both blinds
After the cutoff acts, the button, small blind, and big blind remain to act.
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Roughly what percentage of hands is a solid cutoff opening range?
Answer About 27-30%
A standard cutoff RFI range is around 27-30% of all starting hands.
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Compared to middle position, the cutoff opening range should be:
Answer Wider
Fewer players act behind the cutoff, so you can open wider than in middle position.
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Compared to the button, the cutoff opening range should be:
Answer Tighter
The button has one fewer player behind it, so it opens even wider than the cutoff.
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Which hand type is specifically added to the cutoff range for its straight and flush potential?
Answer Suited connectors like 76s
Suited connectors flop draws and straights well and are strong cutoff opens in position.
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A standard cutoff opening raise size is:
Answer 2-2.5bb
A small 2-2.5bb open keeps steals cheap while still pressuring the blinds.
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Why can the cutoff profitably attack the blinds?
Answer They are forced to defend out of position with weak ranges
The blinds defend out of position with wide, weak ranges, so folds win you the pot.
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Which of these opens from the cutoff for value?
Answer AKs
AKs is a premium hand that opens from any position, including the cutoff.
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Which broadway hand is a comfortable cutoff open?
Answer KJo
Most broadways such as KJo open from the cutoff, unlike weak king-x or queen-x offsuit hands.
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How should you adjust against very passive, fold-happy blinds?
Answer Open even wider to steal more
Passive blinds fold often, so widening your steals extracts more free pots.
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How should you adjust against an aggressive, frequently 3-betting button?
Answer Tighten slightly, trimming the weakest offsuit hands
A 3-bet-happy button punishes marginal hands, so you cut the weakest offsuit opens first.
-
Which suited ace is a routine cutoff open?
Answer A5s
Suited aces including A5s open from the cutoff for their flush and wheel potential.
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What is the main advantage of opening the cutoff versus early position?
Answer Fewer players left to act, so you can open more hands
With only three seats behind, fewer players can wake up with a strong hand.
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When you open the cutoff and only the blinds fold, the button acts with:
Answer Position on you
The button is the one seat that has position on the cutoff postflop.
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Which of these is NOT a reason the cutoff opens wide?
Answer Because it must post a blind
The cutoff posts no blind; it opens wide because of position and few players behind.
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Which hand is a marginal offsuit open you'd cut FIRST against aggression?
Answer K9o
Weak offsuit hands like K9o are the first to fold to aggression, while strong suited and premium hands stay.
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Pocket pairs in a cutoff opening range include:
Answer All of them, 22 through AA
Every pocket pair, even small ones like 22, opens from the cutoff.
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Which best describes the cutoff's overall preflop identity?
Answer A wide, aggressive stealing seat
The cutoff is a wide, aggressive position built for opening and stealing the blinds.
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Why is a smaller open size (2-2.5bb) often preferred from the cutoff?
Answer It risks less when stealing hands that will often fold out
A small open risks fewer chips on frequent steal attempts while still applying pressure.