Cold Call
Calling a raise (and sometimes a re-raise) without having any money already invested in the pot.
iGaming Journalist & Crypto Casino Analyst
What Is Cold Call?
Cold calling differs from a standard call in that the player has not yet put any chips into the pot during the current betting round, meaning they're calling a bet without the sunk cost of a previous blind or raise. This action is generally viewed as a weaker, less aggressive play than 3-betting, since it allows the original raiser to continue to dictate the action, but it can be a strategic choice when a player wants to keep the pot smaller or play in position. Cold calling from the blinds or against multiple raisers requires careful hand selection since the caller is closing very little of the action's aggression.
Examples
A player in the cutoff cold calls an early position raise with a speculative suited connector, hoping to see a cheap flop in position.
Facing a raise and a 3-bet, a player cold calls the re-raise with a strong hand to keep the raiser's range wide.
Strategy Tips
Choose cold-calling hands carefully, favoring speculative, well-disguised holdings like suited connectors and pocket pairs that play well when calling in position. Avoid cold calling too often from out of position, since you'll be at an informational disadvantage for the rest of the hand. Consider 3-betting instead of cold calling with premium hands to build a bigger pot and deny opponents good pot odds. Be mindful of your position relative to other players still to act, since cold calling can invite a squeeze from players behind you.