A cold call is a type of call in which a player calls a bet and at least one raise all at once, without having previously bet or raised in that round. [3]
Before the Flop: Limp, Cold Call, and 3-Bet
The preflop examples below concern players outside the blinds who have not yet contributed voluntarily in the round.
In Texas Hold’em, the blinds are the initial mandatory bet. An open raise is the first raise over them; your response distinguishes the three actions in the table. [2]
| What happened before your turn | What you do | Name of the action |
|---|---|---|
| Only the blinds; nobody has raised | Call the big blind amount | Limp [2] |
| An open raise | Simply call | Cold call [2] |
| An open raise | Raise again | 3-bet [2] |
Cold Calling in Practice: A Bets, B Raises, and C Calls
The example from source [2] applies on the flop, turn, or river. A bets, B raises, and C, who has not yet bet or raised in that round, calls the total amount.
- C’s call: covers the original bet and the raise all at once; it is a cold call. [2]
- If A calls afterward: this is a call of B’s raise, but not a cold call, because A had already bet in that round. [3]
- Does A still have a decision? Check that A remains in the hand, is not all-in, and still needs to respond to the raise. C does not pay the difference for A; however, a smaller contribution alone does not prove that A can still act. A player who folded is out of the hand, while an all-in player remains in the pot without chips for another bet. [4]
Position and the Possibility of a Squeeze
Preflop, another player with the right to reraise after a cold call can make a squeeze play. [2][4] This risk helps explain caution with cold calls in early or middle position: more players remain to act. From the cutoff, immediately before the button, the button and blinds are still to act. [2]
A cold call alone does not reveal hand strength. It may look passive, but it can also disguise a strong hand; assessing the decision requires considering position and opponents. [2]
When reviewing a hand, record the sequence and mark folds and all-ins. Use the example above to identify the call and pending decisions; to put the players in order on each street, consult the order of action in a Texas Hold'em hand.
Recommended reading
- Calling in Poker: What It Means to Match a Bet
- The Poker Squeeze Play: The Sequence and a Plan for the Responses
- Texas Holdem Poker Rules: Cards, Betting, and the Sequence of a Hand
Sources
- [1] Cold Call — PokerLAB, Online Poker Academy, published November 27, 2017
- [2] Cold Calling in Poker: What It Is and When to Do It — partypoker BR, published April 23, 2021
- [3] What is a Cold Call in Poker? — Upswing Poker, published June 9, 2025
- [4] Learn the Rules of Texas Hold’em — CBTH, published July 21, 2024
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