Cold calling preflop

is it ever right? i've gotten the impression it isn't. but it could be used profitably for deception purposes?

say for example i'm at a somewhat passive preflop table and UTG raises, i just call with AA-QQ perhaps and everyone else calls. but if i were to raise they would mostly fold.

obviously in late position raising is best to trap bets but what about early on?

[therockofgibraltar]

I am no expert but I rarely cold-call. If there is no one else in the pot except the raiser I NEVER cold-call. It is 3-bet or fold. IF there are a cold-caller after the initial raiser, then I might cold-call with some suited hands that lack high card strength or offsuited hands like AQo for example. Don't know if this is good or not though.

[ArturiusX]

In loose games, I sometimes cold call suited connectors and small pairs, but generally you should either be dominating his hand range or be dominated by his hand range, so 3-bet or fold.

[imported_leader]

You're not missing much by never CC'ing, but there are some times I think it's good:
* You have something like KQ or AJo in the SB against an aggressive yet not crazy PFR. CC makes post flop a ton easier IMO over 3-betting, and you're hand is too good to fold.
* You have a big drawing hand like QJs, JTs, T9s or PP in LP after 2 other CC's. If you're in the SB, you can do it with just one CC if the raiser is loose like 25+% PFR or the CC is completely awful and will likely pay you many bets when you hit. Also BB can't be too aggressive.

[MrWookie47]

I disagree that KQo and AJo are good cold calls in the SB. I much prefer to 3bet and drive out the BB. These hands prefer HU action. I agree about the good drawing hands, though.

I have one question, actually. An average 5/10 UTG raises, and there are two cold callers to me on the button looking at AQs. Do you 3bet or cold call?

[jba]

Mr W:

I agree with you re: KQo/AJo in the SB. however there is many a BB that won't get the hell out of the way, that is usually when I call. default is to jack it up though.

re: AQs, I 3bet that all day long. KQs I'd lean towards calling but if the raiser is agg and the callers are fish I'm raising the price of poker.

[imported_leader]

[ QUOTE ]
I disagree that KQo and AJo are good cold calls in the SB. I much prefer to 3bet and drive out the BB. These hands prefer HU action. I agree about the good drawing hands, though.

I have one question, actually. An average 5/10 UTG raises, and there are two cold callers to me on the button looking at AQs. Do you 3bet or cold call?

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree that CC AJ in the SB is dependent on BB.

I would 3-bet AQs or even KQs because the equity edge is just too great IMO for anything else

[deception5]

[ QUOTE ]
I disagree that KQo and AJo are good cold calls in the SB. I much prefer to 3bet and drive out the BB. These hands prefer HU action. I agree about the good drawing hands, though.

[/ QUOTE ]

Against an EP/MP raiser I'd usually coldcall with these rather than 3-bet as well. I think the BB is usually drawing thin here (often with a dominated hand) between the two of us and I'd prefer not to give the EP/MP raiser a chance to cap. A third player in tends to keep the preflop raiser honest as well.

[Guruman]

I'll coldcall an ep raiser with JTs, QTs, T9s, and 89s. (especially if I'm next to act)

I'll coldcall in lp with 44-88 after two other coldcallers (or after just one if the sb and bb have vpips over 50).

I'll just call a raise from the bb if I'm already HU with a hand I want to play that isnt AA-JJ,AK,AQ,or KQ.

[deception5]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I disagree that KQo and AJo are good cold calls in the SB. I much prefer to 3bet and drive out the BB. These hands prefer HU action. I agree about the good drawing hands, though.

[/ QUOTE ]

Against an EP/MP raiser I'd usually coldcall with these rather than 3-bet as well. I think the BB is usually drawing thin here (often with a dominated hand) between the two of us and I'd prefer not to give the EP/MP raiser a chance to cap. A third player in tends to keep the preflop raiser honest as well.

[/ QUOTE ]

To clarify, I mean in the SB.