What is the cutoff in poker?
The cutoff (CO) is the seat immediately to the right of the button — the second-best position at the table. It opens a wide range, and if the button folds it gets to play in position against the blinds.
Why it matters
The cutoff is where stealing starts. With only three players behind (button and both blinds), a raise wins the blinds often enough that a wide range shows a profit, and when the button folds you become the effective button for the rest of the hand.
It's also the seat where the first 3-bet decisions get real: the button will 3-bet a cutoff open more than it 3-bets an earlier seat, so cutoff opens have to be comfortable folding to pressure.
The numbers
- The cutoff opens 38.1% of hands in HoldemPro's charts — about 1.6× the UTG range.
- Facing a cutoff open, the button 3-bets 5.8% and calls 19.1%; the big blind defends 26.4% of hands.
Figures come from the same preflop charts and research data the rest of the site uses (charts last updated July 5, 2026); they change when that data does.
Every open-raise and defense range by position, 6-max 100bb, with the frequencies below.
Common questions
Why is it called the cutoff?
Because a raise from that seat "cuts off" the button's chance to steal the blinds cheaply. It's the last seat before the button.
How wide should you open from the cutoff?
Roughly 38% of hands at 100bb in 6-max: all pairs, most suited aces, broadways, suited connectors and one-gappers, and the better offsuit broadways.
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