The cutoff position is one of the strongest seats in poker because it gives you late-position information without putting you on the button. If you understand how the cutoff works relative to the dealer button, blinds, and antes, you can make better opening, stealing, and postflop decisions in both cash games and tournaments. Here’s what the term means, where it shows up, and why good players pay close attention to it.
What cutoff position Means
In poker, the cutoff position is the seat immediately to the right of the dealer button in each hand. It acts just before the button preflop and typically second-to-last after the flop, giving the player more information than most seats and making it one of the most profitable positions at the table.
In plain English, if you are sitting one seat right of the button, you are “in the cutoff,” often abbreviated as CO. The dealer button itself marks the notional dealer for the hand, even in a live casino poker room where a house dealer actually handles the cards.
The cutoff matters because poker is heavily driven by position. The later you act, the more information you have about what other players chose to do first. From the cutoff, only three seats remain behind you preflop in a standard game: the button, small blind, and big blind. That means you can usually open a wider range of hands than you would from early position.
It is called the cutoff because this seat can often “cut off” the button from getting an easy chance to enter the pot or steal the blinds.
How cutoff position Works
The cutoff is not a fixed chair for the whole session. It rotates every hand as the button moves clockwise around the table. Wherever the button lands, the player immediately to its right becomes the cutoff for that hand.
Order of action around the cutoff
The cutoff’s power comes from acting late relative to most of the table.
In a 9-handed game, the usual preflop order is:
| Position order | Typical label |
|---|---|
| 1 | Under the Gun (UTG) |
| 2 | UTG+1 |
| 3 | Lojack (LJ) |
| 4 | Hijack (HJ) |
| 5 | Cutoff (CO) |
| 6 | Button (BTN) |
| 7 | Small Blind (SB) |
| 8 | Big Blind (BB) |
In a 6-max game, the usual preflop order is:
| Position order | Typical label |
|---|---|
| 1 | UTG |
| 2 | Hijack (HJ) |
| 3 | Cutoff (CO) |
| 4 | Button (BTN) |
| 5 | Small Blind (SB) |
| 6 | Big Blind (BB) |
Naming conventions can vary a little by room, app, or training tool, but the cutoff is always the seat immediately right of the button.
Preflop from the cutoff
Preflop, action reaches the cutoff after most players have already folded, limped, called, or raised. That gives the cutoff player several advantages:
- More information about how many players want to continue
- Fewer players left to act
- Better blind-steal opportunities
- Better isolation spots against limpers or weaker opens
Because of that, players usually raise from the cutoff with a wider range than they would from UTG, UTG+1, or lojack. But the cutoff is still not as strong as the button, because the button has position on the cutoff after the flop.
Postflop from the cutoff
After the flop, action starts with the first active player left of the button. That means the cutoff often acts late on every postflop street, usually before only the button if the button is still in the hand.
That matters because postflop decisions improve when you can:
- See whether opponents check or bet first
- Control pot size more effectively
- Value bet thinner against capped ranges
- Bluff more selectively
- Take free cards when checked to
In short, the cutoff combines two big strategic benefits: it is late enough to gather information, but still early enough that many opponents underestimate how much pressure it can apply.
Why the blinds and antes matter
The cutoff becomes even more important when there is dead money in the pot before the cards are even played.
That dead money usually comes from:
- the small blind
- the big blind
- a big blind ante or table antes in tournaments
When action folds to the cutoff, a raise can win those forced bets immediately. That is why cutoff opening ranges tend to widen in tournament structures with antes: there is more money available to pick up uncontested.
Real poker room and online workflow
In a live poker room, dealers and players constantly refer to positions like cutoff, button, and blinds to keep action organized. You might hear statements such as:
- “Action is on the cutoff.”
- “Raise from the cutoff.”
- “Cutoff folds, button calls.”
In online poker, the software labels seats automatically, and hand histories usually use abbreviations like CO, BTN, SB, and BB. Tracking tools, hand replayers, solvers, and training charts also break strategy down by position, so the cutoff is a standard category in both live and digital poker analysis.
Where cutoff position Shows Up
The cutoff position is mainly relevant anywhere structured poker is dealt, tracked, or analyzed.
Live poker rooms
In a land-based casino poker room, the cutoff is part of everyday table language. Dealers, floor staff, and players use position names to keep betting order clear and reduce confusion.
It matters in:
- cash games
- tournaments
- televised or streamed poker
- rule enforcement around action order
- dispute resolution when someone acts out of turn
In live settings, the cutoff also matters because players can physically observe tells, stack sizes, and tendencies before acting.
Online poker
Online poker clients usually display the table from a fixed or rotating perspective, but the software still tracks the cutoff exactly the same way. You will often see:
- CO in hand histories
- cutoff-specific stats in tracking software
- preflop charts organized by cutoff opens, calls, and 3-bets
- training content that treats the cutoff separately from hijack and button
This is especially important online because the pace is faster, hand volume is higher, and small positional edges compound over time.
Cash games
In cash games, the cutoff is valuable because stacks are often deeper. That creates more room for:
- postflop maneuvering
- floating and delayed c-bets
- pressure on capped blind ranges
- isolating recreational players who limp too often
At deeper stacks, the cutoff can leverage position across multiple streets rather than relying only on preflop fold equity.
Tournaments
In tournaments, the cutoff often becomes even more important because blind pressure rises as stacks get shallower. Antes increase the pot size before the hand begins, which makes opens and steals from late position more attractive.
The cutoff is especially active in tournament spots where:
- action folds around late
- players in the blinds are medium or short stacked
- payout pressure makes opponents tighter
- the button is passive or folded
Why It Matters
For players, the cutoff matters because it is one of the best seats for turning information into better decisions. A player in the cutoff can often:
- open more hands than from early position
- steal blinds and antes more often
- isolate weak limpers
- defend less frequently against earlier pressure than the blinds do
- play more pots in position after the flop
That does not mean every hand from the cutoff is profitable. Position helps, but stack depth, opponent skill, rake, tournament stage, and table dynamics still matter.
For operators and poker rooms, clear position language matters because it improves table flow and reduces mistakes. When everyone understands what “cutoff” means, it is easier to manage:
- betting order
- verbal declarations
- all-in situations
- misdeals or out-of-turn action
- tournament table balancing and reporting
For training and analysis, the cutoff is also a core reference point. Coaches, software tools, and hand-review systems separate strategy by position because a hand that is marginal from hijack may be a clear open from cutoff.
Operationally, misunderstanding the cutoff can create avoidable errors. Newer players may think the cutoff is the button, assume they act last, or play too loosely simply because they are near the dealer. In reality, the cutoff is powerful precisely because it is almost the best seat, not because it overrides the rest of the hand.
Related Terms and Common Confusions
Here are the terms most commonly compared with the cutoff position:
| Term | How it relates to cutoff | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Button (BTN) | Immediately left of the cutoff | The button is the strongest position because it acts after the cutoff postflop |
| Hijack (HJ) | Immediately right of the cutoff | The hijack acts earlier and usually opens a tighter range |
| Lojack (LJ) / Middle Position | A seat or two before the hijack in full-ring games | Much earlier than cutoff, with more players left to act |
| Late Position | Category that includes cutoff and button | “Late position” is a group term; cutoff is one specific seat |
| Small Blind (SB) | One of the forced-bet seats behind the cutoff preflop | The small blind acts after the cutoff preflop but is out of position postflop |
| Big Blind (BB) | The other forced-bet seat behind the cutoff preflop | The big blind closes the preflop action but usually plays postflop out of position |
The most common misunderstanding is simple: the cutoff is not the dealer button. It is the seat immediately to the right of the button.
Another common confusion is believing the cutoff always acts last. It does not. Preflop, the button and both blinds still act after the cutoff. Postflop, the button will still act after the cutoff if the button remains in the hand.
Practical Examples
Example 1: Live cash game open from the cutoff
You are in a $1/$3 no-limit hold’em cash game. Everyone folds to you in the cutoff and you hold K♠ J♠.
The players behind you are:
- a tight button who folds often to opens
- a cautious small blind
- a straightforward big blind
This is a good spot to raise, perhaps to $12 or $15 depending on the table. You are using the cutoff correctly because:
- most of the table has already folded
- only three players remain behind you
- your hand plays well if called
- you may win the blinds immediately
If the big blind calls and the flop comes Q♦ 8♠ 4♠, you now have a strong draw and position. You can c-bet, check back selectively, or apply pressure on later streets with more information than the blind has.
Example 2: Tournament cutoff steal with a numerical view
You are in a tournament with blinds of 1,000/2,000 and a 2,000 big blind ante. You have 50,000 chips and action folds to you in the cutoff.
Before you act, the pot contains:
- small blind: 1,000
- big blind: 2,000
- big blind ante: 2,000
Total dead money: 5,000
You raise to 4,500.
If you simplified the spot and assumed you had zero equity whenever called or reraised, your immediate break-even fold rate would be:
Risk / (Risk + Reward) = 4,500 / (4,500 + 5,000) = 47.4%
So if the button, small blind, and big blind combined fold more than 47.4% of the time, your raise shows an immediate profit from folds alone.
A simple fold-only EV model looks like this:
EV = (Fold % × 5,000) – ((1 – Fold %) × 4,500)
If they fold 50% of the time:
EV = (0.50 × 5,000) – (0.50 × 4,500) = +250 chips
And in a real hand, you are usually not drawing dead when called. That means the actual required fold rate can be lower than this simplified model suggests.
This is why the cutoff becomes so important in ante structures: there is meaningful dead money to attack.
Example 3: Online 6-max adjustment from the cutoff
You are playing 6-max online. It folds to you in the cutoff with Q♣ 9♣.
Normally, this might be a reasonable open in many games. But this time:
- the button is aggressive and 3-bets frequently
- the small blind defends wide
- the big blind is competent postflop
Even though you are in the cutoff, opening every borderline hand may no longer be best. A stronger adjustment could be:
- tighten your weakest opens
- open hands that play better against 3-bets
- mix more hands that can continue profitably
- avoid auto-stealing just because you are near the button
This example shows the key principle: the cutoff is a strong position, but it is not a license to raise blindly.
Limits, Risks, or Jurisdiction Notes
A few important cautions apply when using or interpreting the cutoff position:
- Table size changes the labels. In 6-max, 8-max, and 9-handed games, some seat names differ, but the cutoff is always immediately right of the button.
- Room procedures can vary. Missed blinds, dead-button rules, straddles, and special formats can slightly affect action order or preflop dynamics.
- Tournament structures matter. Antes, stack sizes, and payout pressure change how valuable cutoff steals are.
- Online and live poker availability varies by jurisdiction. Legal access to poker rooms, tournament formats, and online platforms depends on local law and operator rules.
- Position can be overvalued. A common mistake is opening too many weak hands from the cutoff without considering the button, blinds, rake, or stack depth.
- Training charts are not universal. Solver outputs and preflop charts depend on assumptions such as rake, blind structure, and effective stacks.
Before acting on strategic advice, verify the specific rules for the room, tournament, or platform you are playing on.
FAQ
What is the cutoff position in poker?
The cutoff position is the seat immediately to the right of the dealer button. It is a late position and is usually considered the second-best seat at the table after the button.
Where is the cutoff seat in 6-max and full-ring poker?
In any format, the cutoff is always directly right of the button. In 6-max it is one of the last three non-blind positions; in full-ring it sits between the hijack and the button.
Why is the cutoff considered a strong position?
It is strong because most players act before the cutoff, giving that player more information and fewer opponents to worry about. That makes it easier to open pots, isolate weaker players, and pressure the blinds.
Does the cutoff act last in poker?
No. Preflop, the button, small blind, and big blind still act after the cutoff. Postflop, the cutoff usually acts late, but the button will still act after it if the button remains in the hand.
Should you play more hands from the cutoff position?
Usually yes, compared with early and middle positions. But your exact range should still depend on the players behind you, stack depth, tournament stage, blind structure, and whether you are playing live or online.
Final Takeaway
The cutoff position is one seat to the right of the button, but strategically it is far more than just a table label. It is a premium late position that lets you act with more information, apply pressure to the blinds, and play more hands profitably than you can from earlier seats. Learn how the cutoff position changes with table size, stack depth, and opponent tendencies, and you will make sharper poker decisions in both cash games and tournaments.
