In poker, your position at the table significantly influences how you should play each hand. One of the most profitable and strategically important spots is the cutoff poker position—the seat directly to the right of the button.
Learning how to play effectively from the cutoff can dramatically boost your results, especially when you understand how to adjust your opening range, react to aggression, and exploit opponents in the blinds.
In this article, we’ll break down how to optimize your strategy from the cutoff, including identifying the best hands to raise from cutoff, when to steal blinds, how to balance aggression with caution, and how to exploit your opponents' tendencies.
Why the Cutoff Is a Powerful Position in Poker
The cutoff offers a unique balance of positional advantage and opportunity. While not as powerful as the button, the cutoff still allows you to act after most of the table, giving you a clearer picture of the action before you decide to enter the pot. When the button is tight or passive, the cutoff vs button in poker dynamic can even tip in your favor.
From this seat, you can play a wider range of good hands, apply pressure on the blinds, and use your position to control the pot. The goal is to build a strategy that leverages your edge while adapting to different table dynamics.
Optimal Cutoff Opening Range
To succeed from the cutoff, you need a solid and flexible opening range. While this can vary depending on the table, a typical range includes:
Premium hands: AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AK suited/offsuit
Strong hands: TT–77, AQ suited/offsuit, AJ suited, KQ suited
Suited hands and connectors: Suited aces (A2s–A5s), suited connectors (T9s–65s), and suited one-gappers like J9s
High card value hands: KJ, QJ, and sometimes KT suited
You can confidently raise a wider range of hands from the cutoff than from middle positions, thanks to your relative position and potential to fold out tighter players in the blinds.
Adjusting to Table Dynamics
Adaptability is key. Pay close attention to how the players behind you—specifically the button, small blind, and big blind—are playing. If they’re passive or folding frequently, you can expand your raising range to include more speculative and suited hands. If they’re aggressive or 3-betting often, tighten up slightly and focus on strong hands that play well post-flop.
Also, track the tendencies of players in the poker table:
If the button is tight, you can steal more often.
If the blinds defend often but play poorly post-flop, you can exploit them with a wider range of hands.
If they’re aggressive 3-bettors, be ready with a calling range or balanced 4-bet strategy.
Blind Stealing and Maximizing Fold Equity
One of the biggest advantages of the cutoff poker position is the potential to steal blinds. Raising with a range of hands that includes suited connectors, suited aces, and high-card hands allows you to apply pressure on the big blind and small blind—especially if they’re folding too often.
To maximize fold equity:
Raise with hands that can win uncontested.
Keep your bet sizing consistent to avoid giving away information.
Watch how frequently the blinds are defending or 3-betting and adjust your preflop raises accordingly.
The more you exploit weak blind defenders, the more chips you’ll accumulate with minimal risk.
Dealing with Aggression Behind
Even in the cutoff, you’ll sometimes face 3-bets from the button or blinds. Knowing how to respond is crucial. Here's how to handle it:
Against tight 3-bettors: Fold your weaker opens and call or 4-bet only with premium hands and strong Broadway combinations.
Against aggressive players: Widen your calling and 4-betting range. Include hands like AJs, KQs, and some suited connectors that can make strong post-flop hands.
Balancing your range keeps opponents guessing and prevents them from exploiting your tendencies.
Exploiting Tight Players in the Blinds
When the blinds are overly tight, the cutoff becomes a goldmine. These players are likely to fold too often, allowing you to pick up easy chips. In these cases:
Open-raise with more speculative hands like suited gappers (97s, 86s).
Keep putting pressure on them with frequent steals.
If they call, use your position in poker to navigate the flop more effectively.
The key is to keep them under constant pressure while maintaining enough strong hands in your range to stay credible.
Balancing Aggression and Caution
The most effective cutoff players know when to shift gears. Being overly aggressive can lead to spewing chips against tough opponents, while being too cautious leaves money on the table. To find the right balance:
Start aggressive but adjust based on resistance.
Mix in calls and 3-bets to avoid being predictable.
Use your position at the table to outplay opponents post-flop.
A well-balanced strategy will make you difficult to read and increase your win rate from the cutoff.
Final Thoughts
The cutoff poker position is one of the most profitable seats at the poker table, offering the perfect blend of aggression, control, and information. By expanding your opening range, exploiting tight players, and adapting to aggressive opponents, you can consistently gain an edge.
Whether you're playing in a cash game or tournament, understanding how to leverage this key position can be the difference between staying afloat and dominating the table. Use the insights above to turn the cutoff into your secret weapon.
