In poker, a cold call occurs when a player enters the pot by calling a bet without having previously invested any chips in that betting round. This often happens after another player has raised the stakes, and the cold caller decides to stay in the game rather than fold or raise further. Cold calling can be a strategic move, as it allows players to see additional community cards without committing too many chips, but it also carries the risk of getting caught in a tough situation if the player’s hand doesn’t improve.
Cold Call Poker Example
For example, imagine a player in a Texas Hold’em game who holds a Jack of Hearts and a Ten of Hearts. When the player in the early position raises the bet to $10, instead of folding or raising, the player decides to cold call the $10. They remain in the hand to see the flop, hoping that the community cards will improve their hand.