Playing the button/cutoff in ring games

Playing the button/cutoff position in cash games is a lot different than tournaments (check our article about playing the button in tournaments).

The reason is that in tournaments you only have one life where in cash games you have unlimited lives.

If the table folds around to you in the cutoff or button you should open the pot with any 2 cards higher than an 8. Even a hand like a K7 suited is alright to open for a raise.

A lot of the time one player will call you from the blinds for whatever reason and attempt to get them stuck in the hand. If you can continue aggression throughout the hand you can most of the time either hit a winning hand or get a fold from your opponent.

If your opponent checks then calls two streets in a cash game you are better off just checking back the river.

Firing three shells from the button is almost never the best way to play a hand. Sometimes it will work if your opponent is on a draw, but most of the time if they have top pair they aren’t going to lay it down.

Even if they are on a draw and they miss their hand you can probably check back the river and win the pot. That’s why firing a third bet at the pot isn’t the best way to play it.

On the other hand if you do hit a big flop with a hand from the button or you wake up with a big pair you can get paid off for it by playing overly aggressive. Most players will see a big flop bet and automatically think that the player is buying the pot. Most of the time you could have AK and be making the exact same bet as if you had AA, or vice versa.

To let your opponent try and interpret what hand you have is what you want from playing hands in position. If you can truly have them guessing at what you have, you are on top of your game.

Having and playing AK from the button is a hard think for some if they miss the flop completely.

On a flop of T98 when you are holding an AK off suit, it is most times best to check back the flop. Most of the time on a flop like that you will get check raised or check called in the pot. Very rarely will someone just fold to a continuation bet on that flop.

Though on a flop of T52 you should continuation bet and play your hand just like you have AA. On a flop like that your opponent will put you on the over pair if you bet the flop and then make a big bet on the turn. That is a pretty standard cash play with AK and one that really looks like KK or AA.

If you can collect two streets of equity though that is what you want from any hand. Meaning, that you will get called on two streets and end up winning the pot. Ideally, that is the reason you play hands in position.

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