Cold call
Calling an open from a seat that has not yet put any money in the pot.
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- What it means
- A cold call is a flat call of a raise when you have no blind in the pot, for example calling an under-the-gun open from the cutoff. The blinds defending are not cold calls because they have already paid part of the price.
- How it is calculated
- Cold-call only hands that play well after the flop and are not strong enough to 3-bet for value. With players still to act behind you, the range stays narrow: a squeeze behind can force you to fold.
- Worked example
- Under the gun opens to 2.5bb at 100bb. From the cutoff, 88 and KQs are cold calls, QQ+ and AK 3-bet, and KTo folds.
- Why it matters
- Cold-calling too wide is a steady leak: you enter pots out of position or sandwiched between players with a capped range. The drill uses approximate charts, labeled as such.
Try it: Range browser
See also: Facing an open, 3-bet, Squeeze, Flat call