progressButton against a cutoff open
The button opens about half of its hands when folded to. Against a cutoff open it plays far fewer.
When the cutoff opens, the button acts last after the flop but faces a range that is already narrowed. This is how our solution book splits the button response when everyone before the cutoff folds (8-max tournament with ante, blinds still behind):
| Stack | Fold | Call | 3-bet | All-in | 3-bet to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 BB | 81% | 5% | 0% | 14% | - |
| 20 BB | 80% | 7% | 0% | 13% | - |
| 25 BB | 78% | 10% | 6% | 5% | 5 BB |
| 30 BB | 78% | 12% | 10% | 1% | 5.5 BB |
| 40 BB | 76% | 14% | 10% | 0% | 6.5 BB |
| 50 BB | 77% | 12% | 11% | 0% | 7 BB |
| 60 BB | 76% | 11% | 12% | 0% | 7 BB |
| 100 BB | 76% | 12% | 12% | 0% | 8.5 BB |
The cutoff opens to 2 BB at 20 BB and to 2.2 BB at 100 BB; the last column is the size of the button 3-bet in the book.
What the table shows
- The button folds 76% to 81% of hands at every stack. At 30 BB it plays 22% against the cutoff open, while it opens 47% of hands when everyone folds to it. The cutoff opens 35% at that depth.
- Up to 20 BB it is call or shove. At 20 BB the all-in share is 13%, the call 7% and the 3-bet 0%.
- 25 BB is the switch point. The book 3-bets 6% and shoves 5%.
- From 30 BB the 3-bet is almost as common as the call. At 40 BB the button calls 14% and 3-bets 10%; at 100 BB 12% and 12%.
How common hands change
Each cell lists the actions the book takes at least 10% of the time with the hand:
| Hand | 15 BB | 20 BB | 25 BB | 30 BB | 40 BB | 100 BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AKo | all-in 100% | all-in 100% | all-in 88% · 3-bet 12% | 3-bet 74% · all-in 26% | 3-bet 100% | 3-bet 86% · call 14% |
| AQo | all-in 100% | all-in 100% | all-in 100% | 3-bet 88% · all-in 12% | 3-bet 50% · call 50% | 3-bet 98% |
| AJo | all-in 100% | all-in 100% | call 96% | call 100% | call 76% · 3-bet 24% | 3-bet 56% · call 44% |
| KQo | all-in 90% · call 10% | all-in 98% | all-in 56% · call 30% · 3-bet 14% | call 52% · 3-bet 44% | call 86% · 3-bet 14% | call 86% · 3-bet 12% |
| KJo | call 100% | call 100% | call 100% | call 100% | call 98% | call 98% |
| A5s | all-in 92% | all-in 96% | call 42% · 3-bet 30% · all-in 28% | call 56% · 3-bet 44% | call 60% · 3-bet 40% | 3-bet 64% · call 36% |
| T9s | all-in 92% | all-in 100% | all-in 100% | 3-bet 94% | 3-bet 96% | 3-bet 90% · call 10% |
| 98s | fold 100% | fold 100% | fold 100% | fold 88% · 3-bet 12% | 3-bet 96% | 3-bet 94% |
| 99 | all-in 100% | all-in 100% | all-in 40% · call 36% · 3-bet 24% | 3-bet 64% · call 30% | 3-bet 62% · call 38% | 3-bet 62% · call 38% |
KJo is a call at every stack in the table (at least 98% of the time). AJo goes all-in 100% at 15 BB but calls 100% at 30 BB. 98s folds 100% at 25 BB and 3-bets 96% at 40 BB: deeper, the book plays it as a 3-bet, not as a call. At 40 BB the hands the book 3-bets at least 90% of the time are AA, AKs, AKo, A2s, KK, QQ, JJ, T9s, 98s.
What to take away
- Do not play your button opening range against a cutoff open: in the book the button plays only about half as many hands (22% against 47% at 30 BB).
- At 20 BB and below decide between a call and a shove, and keep the 3-bet for 25 BB and deeper.
- From 30 BB split your continuing hands between calls and 3-bets instead of only calling. See the full grid in the button vs cutoff chart at 30 BB and the guide to facing a 3-bet for the other side of the spot.
Keep exploring
- Button opening range at 30 BB
- Button opening range at 15 BB
- How the big blind defends against a button open
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Questions
How often should the button fold to a cutoff open?
In our book 78% at 30 BB, 80% at 20 BB and 76% at 100 BB (8-max, with ante).
Should the button 3-bet or call against the cutoff?
Up to 20 BB the book almost never 3-bets (0% at 20 BB) and shoves instead. At 40 BB it calls 14% and 3-bets 10%.
How big is the button 3-bet?
In the book 5.5 BB at 30 BB, 6.5 BB at 40 BB and 8.5 BB at 100 BB.
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progressGTO guides use our own solution book (v17d, 8-max tournaments with a 12.5% ante from each player, chip EV): an approximation of equilibrium with a modelled postflop, not an exact solution. Numbers are computed from the book and from the exact ICM model.