Solver answer
Which hands check-raise 8♦ 6♠ 5♣ from the big blind?
6-max cash, 100 big blinds · Button opens, big blind calls · Flop 8♦ 6♠ 5♣ · Button bets 1.8 bb into 5.5 bb · Big blind to act
Updated
The solver's answer
The big blind's whole range
Call 56% Fold 27% Raise 17%
The big blind check-raises 17% of its checking range: its best hands and its straight draws.
8♦6♠5♣
- Pot
- 5.5 bb
- Behind
- 97.5 bb
- Button
- Bets 1.8 bb
In a 6-max cash game at 100 big blinds, after the button opens to 2.5 bb and the big blind calls, then checks an 8♦ 6♠ 5♣ flop and faces a 1.8 bb c-bet into 5.5 bb, the big blind check-raises to 10 bb with 17% of its range, calls 56% and folds 27%, according to a solver answer published free by Poker Skill.
Which hands check-raise, and why
- Value: straights check-raise 90% of the time, two pair 55% and sets 43%. Low, connected flops like this one are good boards to check-raise, with sets and two pair for value and draws alongside them.
- Draws: open-ended straight draws raise 41% and gutshots 25%, against 4% for hands with no draw. A raise with a draw is a semi-bluff: it can win the pot now or improve later.
- Its weakest hands, no pair and nothing better than queen-high, raise 30% of the time and fold 46%.
- Only about half of the big blind's range gets here: on this flop it leads into the button 47% of the time and checks 53%.
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The full strategy, hand by hand
| A | K | Q | J | T | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | AA Not in this range here | AKs Not in this range here | AQs Not in this range here | AJs C 94 % | ATs C 57 % | A9s C 81 % | A8s C 55 % | A7s C 74 % | A6s C 99 % | A5s C 95 % | A4s C 68 % | A3s F 99 % | A2s F 93 % |
| K | AKo Not in this range here | KK Not in this range here | KQs C 88 % | KJs C 65 % | KTs C 51 % | K9s C 53 % | K8s C 83 % | K7s R 93 % | K6s C 93 % | K5s C 98 % | K4s F 36 % | K3s F 100 % | K2s F 100 % |
| Q | AQo C 100 % | KQo F 62 % | QQ Not in this range here | QJs F 46 % | QTs C 39 % | Q9s R 86 % | Q8s C 98 % | Q7s R 76 % | Q6s C 100 % | Q5s C 100 % | Q4s F 40 % | Q3s F 100 % | Q2s F 100 % |
| J | AJo C 57 % | KJo F 100 % | QJo F 100 % | JJ Not in this range here | JTs C 43 % | J9s R 77 % | J8s C 99 % | J7s R 91 % | J6s C 100 % | J5s C 100 % | J4s F 71 % | J3s Not in this range here | J2s Not in this range here |
| T | ATo C 74 % | KTo F 100 % | QTo F 99 % | JTo F 99 % | TT Not in this range here | T9s C 64 % | T8s C 100 % | T7s R 89 % | T6s C 100 % | T5s Not in this range here | T4s Not in this range here | T3s Not in this range here | T2s Not in this range here |
| 9 | A9o C 88 % | K9o C 82 % | Q9o C 82 % | J9o C 54 % | T9o C 55 % | 99 R 66 % | 98s C 100 % | 97s R 82 % | 96s C 100 % | 95s Not in this range here | 94s Not in this range here | 93s Not in this range here | 92s Not in this range here |
| 8 | A8o C 86 % | K8o Not in this range here | Q8o Not in this range here | J8o Not in this range here | T8o Not in this range here | 98o Not in this range here | 88 C 67 % | 87s C 82 % | 86s R 76 % | 85s R 73 % | 84s Not in this range here | 83s Not in this range here | 82s Not in this range here |
| 7 | A7o C 76 % | K7o Not in this range here | Q7o Not in this range here | J7o Not in this range here | T7o Not in this range here | 97o Not in this range here | 87o Not in this range here | 77 C 100 % | 76s C 51 % | 75s C 98 % | 74s R 100 % | 73s Not in this range here | 72s Not in this range here |
| 6 | A6o Not in this range here | K6o Not in this range here | Q6o Not in this range here | J6o Not in this range here | T6o Not in this range here | 96o Not in this range here | 86o Not in this range here | 76o Not in this range here | 66 C 51 % | 65s C 69 % | 64s C 99 % | 63s R 67 % | 62s Not in this range here |
| 5 | A5o C 94 % | K5o Not in this range here | Q5o Not in this range here | J5o Not in this range here | T5o Not in this range here | 95o Not in this range here | 85o Not in this range here | 75o Not in this range here | 65o Not in this range here | 55 R 52 % | 54s C 96 % | 53s R 90 % | 52s R 61 % |
| 4 | A4o F 100 % | K4o Not in this range here | Q4o Not in this range here | J4o Not in this range here | T4o Not in this range here | 94o Not in this range here | 84o Not in this range here | 74o Not in this range here | 64o Not in this range here | 54o Not in this range here | 44 C 100 % | 43s R 53 % | 42s Not in this range here |
| 3 | A3o Not in this range here | K3o Not in this range here | Q3o Not in this range here | J3o Not in this range here | T3o Not in this range here | 93o Not in this range here | 83o Not in this range here | 73o Not in this range here | 63o Not in this range here | 53o Not in this range here | 43o Not in this range here | 33 C 99 % | 32s Not in this range here |
| 2 | A2o Not in this range here | K2o Not in this range here | Q2o Not in this range here | J2o Not in this range here | T2o Not in this range here | 92o Not in this range here | 82o Not in this range here | 72o Not in this range here | 62o Not in this range here | 52o Not in this range here | 42o Not in this range here | 32o Not in this range here | 22 C 99 % |
- Fold: 27.38% of the range (45.6 combos)
- Call (1.8 bb): 55.86% of the range (93.02 combos)
- Raise 0.9 pot (to 10 bb): 16.76% of the range (27.91 combos)
Each cell is a hand class. Its letter is the action the class takes most (F fold, X check, C call, B bet, R raise) and its number is how often, in percent. In the labels, s means suited and o means offsuit.
| Hand class | Combos | Fold | Call (1.8 bb) | Raise 0.9 pot (to 10 bb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AJs | 2.11 | 3.4% | 93.6% | 3.0% |
| ATs | 2.461 | 10.8% | 56.8% | 32.4% |
| A9s | 2.37 | 0.0% | 80.7% | 19.3% |
| A8s | 0.951 | 0.0% | 55.3% | 44.7% |
| A7s | 2.353 | 0.0% | 73.8% | 26.2% |
| A6s | 1.161 | 0.0% | 99.2% | 0.8% |
| A5s | 1.136 | 0.0% | 94.9% | 5.1% |
| A4s | 2.825 | 18.6% | 68.1% | 13.3% |
| A3s | 3.064 | 99.3% | 0.5% | 0.2% |
| A2s | 1.493 | 93.1% | 6.8% | 0.1% |
| KQs | 0.001 | 12.1% | 87.9% | 0.1% |
| KJs | 2.363 | 34.2% | 65.4% | 0.4% |
| KTs | 2.039 | 41.0% | 50.5% | 8.5% |
| K9s | 1.396 | 0.0% | 53.3% | 46.6% |
| K8s | 1.189 | 0.0% | 82.6% | 17.4% |
| K7s | 1.195 | 0.0% | 7.1% | 92.9% |
| K6s | 1.596 | 0.0% | 93.1% | 6.9% |
| K5s | 1.777 | 0.0% | 97.6% | 2.4% |
| K4s | 1.441 | 35.8% | 35.8% | 28.4% |
| K3s | 1.7 | 99.9% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| K2s | 0.003 | 99.9% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| AQo | 2.387 | 0.1% | 99.8% | 0.0% |
| KQo | 10.377 | 61.5% | 38.5% | 0.0% |
| QJs | 1.734 | 45.9% | 45.1% | 9.0% |
| QTs | 2.185 | 28.2% | 38.5% | 33.4% |
| Q9s | 2.054 | 0.0% | 13.6% | 86.4% |
| Q8s | 0.902 | 0.0% | 97.8% | 2.2% |
| Q7s | 0.738 | 0.0% | 24.1% | 75.9% |
| Q6s | 1.114 | 0.0% | 99.7% | 0.3% |
| Q5s | 0.386 | 0.0% | 99.9% | 0.1% |
| Q4s | 2.168 | 40.0% | 27.5% | 32.5% |
| Q3s | 1.904 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Q2s | 0.141 | 99.9% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| AJo | 8.801 | 42.7% | 57.3% | 0.0% |
| KJo | 3.579 | 99.8% | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| QJo | 4.529 | 99.9% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| JTs | 2.534 | 26.3% | 42.9% | 30.8% |
| J9s | 1.814 | 0.0% | 23.1% | 76.9% |
| J8s | 1.238 | 0.0% | 98.9% | 1.1% |
| J7s | 1.124 | 0.0% | 9.3% | 90.7% |
| J6s | 0.519 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| J5s | 0.823 | 0.0% | 99.9% | 0.1% |
| J4s | 0.151 | 71.2% | 14.8% | 14.1% |
| ATo | 7.304 | 26.0% | 73.6% | 0.4% |
| KTo | 3.099 | 99.8% | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| QTo | 3.029 | 99.1% | 0.8% | 0.2% |
| JTo | 5.021 | 98.9% | 1.0% | 0.2% |
| T9s | 1.073 | 0.0% | 64.4% | 35.6% |
| T8s | 1.289 | 0.0% | 99.9% | 0.1% |
| T7s | 1.822 | 0.0% | 11.3% | 88.7% |
| T6s | 0.859 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| A9o | 7.013 | 0.0% | 87.7% | 12.2% |
| K9o | 4.138 | 0.1% | 82.4% | 17.5% |
| Q9o | 1.913 | 0.1% | 81.7% | 18.2% |
| J9o | 0.746 | 0.1% | 54.2% | 45.7% |
| T9o | 2.291 | 0.0% | 55.0% | 45.0% |
| 99 | 1.45 | 0.0% | 33.8% | 66.2% |
| 98s | 1.597 | 0.0% | 99.7% | 0.3% |
| 97s | 1.511 | 0.0% | 18.2% | 81.8% |
| 96s | 1.505 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| A8o | 3.386 | 0.0% | 85.9% | 14.1% |
| 88 | 1.203 | 0.0% | 67.0% | 33.0% |
| 87s | 0.583 | 0.0% | 81.9% | 18.1% |
| 86s | 0.868 | 0.0% | 24.1% | 75.9% |
| 85s | 0.335 | 0.0% | 27.4% | 72.6% |
| A7o | 3.498 | 0.0% | 75.7% | 24.2% |
| 77 | 2.096 | 0.0% | 99.8% | 0.2% |
| 76s | 0.955 | 0.0% | 51.1% | 48.9% |
| 75s | 1.805 | 0.0% | 98.0% | 2.0% |
| 74s | 1.232 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 66 | 1.158 | 0.0% | 51.4% | 48.6% |
| 65s | 1.02 | 0.0% | 68.6% | 31.4% |
| 64s | 1.013 | 0.0% | 98.5% | 1.5% |
| 63s | 0.002 | 0.0% | 32.7% | 67.3% |
| A5o | 0.797 | 0.1% | 93.5% | 6.4% |
| 55 | 0.641 | 0.0% | 48.0% | 52.0% |
| 54s | 1.41 | 0.0% | 96.1% | 3.9% |
| 53s | 1.151 | 0.0% | 10.3% | 89.7% |
| 52s | 0.054 | 0.0% | 38.9% | 61.1% |
| A4o | 0.084 | 99.6% | 0.0% | 0.3% |
| 44 | 3.704 | 0.1% | 99.8% | 0.1% |
| 43s | 1.478 | 0.0% | 47.4% | 52.6% |
| 33 | 3.657 | 0.9% | 99.0% | 0.0% |
| 22 | 2.914 | 0.6% | 99.3% | 0.0% |
Ranges, pot and stacks
- The hand so far: 6-max cash, 100 big blinds · Button opens to 2.5 bb, big blind calls · Flop 8♦ 6♠ 5♣: big blind checks, button bets 1.8 bb into 5.5 bb · Big blind to act, 97.5 bb behind
- Pot at this decision, including the bets in front: 7.3 bb
- The big blind: 97.5 bb behind
- The button: 95.7 bb behind, 1.8 bb in front
| A | K | Q | J | T | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | AA Not in this range here | AKs Not in this range here | AQs Not in this range here | AJs 53 % | ATs 62 % | A9s 59 % | A8s 32 % | A7s 59 % | A6s 39 % | A5s 38 % | A4s 71 % | A3s 77 % | A2s 37 % |
| K | AKo Not in this range here | KK Not in this range here | KQs <1 % | KJs 59 % | KTs 51 % | K9s 35 % | K8s 40 % | K7s 30 % | K6s 53 % | K5s 59 % | K4s 36 % | K3s 43 % | K2s <1 % |
| Q | AQo 20 % | KQo 87 % | QQ Not in this range here | QJs 43 % | QTs 55 % | Q9s 51 % | Q8s 30 % | Q7s 19 % | Q6s 37 % | Q5s 13 % | Q4s 54 % | Q3s 48 % | Q2s 4 % |
| J | AJo 73 % | KJo 30 % | QJo 38 % | JJ Not in this range here | JTs 63 % | J9s 45 % | J8s 41 % | J7s 28 % | J6s 17 % | J5s 27 % | J4s 4 % | J3s Not in this range here | J2s Not in this range here |
| T | ATo 61 % | KTo 26 % | QTo 25 % | JTo 42 % | TT Not in this range here | T9s 27 % | T8s 43 % | T7s 46 % | T6s 29 % | T5s Not in this range here | T4s Not in this range here | T3s Not in this range here | T2s Not in this range here |
| 9 | A9o 58 % | K9o 35 % | Q9o 16 % | J9o 6 % | T9o 19 % | 99 24 % | 98s 53 % | 97s 38 % | 96s 50 % | 95s Not in this range here | 94s Not in this range here | 93s Not in this range here | 92s Not in this range here |
| 8 | A8o 38 % | K8o Not in this range here | Q8o Not in this range here | J8o Not in this range here | T8o Not in this range here | 98o Not in this range here | 88 40 % | 87s 19 % | 86s 43 % | 85s 17 % | 84s Not in this range here | 83s Not in this range here | 82s Not in this range here |
| 7 | A7o 29 % | K7o Not in this range here | Q7o Not in this range here | J7o Not in this range here | T7o Not in this range here | 97o Not in this range here | 87o Not in this range here | 77 35 % | 76s 32 % | 75s 60 % | 74s 31 % | 73s Not in this range here | 72s Not in this range here |
| 6 | A6o Not in this range here | K6o Not in this range here | Q6o Not in this range here | J6o Not in this range here | T6o Not in this range here | 96o Not in this range here | 86o Not in this range here | 76o Not in this range here | 66 39 % | 65s 51 % | 64s 34 % | 63s <1 % | 62s Not in this range here |
| 5 | A5o 9 % | K5o Not in this range here | Q5o Not in this range here | J5o Not in this range here | T5o Not in this range here | 95o Not in this range here | 85o Not in this range here | 75o Not in this range here | 65o Not in this range here | 55 21 % | 54s 47 % | 53s 38 % | 52s 2 % |
| 4 | A4o 1 % | K4o Not in this range here | Q4o Not in this range here | J4o Not in this range here | T4o Not in this range here | 94o Not in this range here | 84o Not in this range here | 74o Not in this range here | 64o Not in this range here | 54o Not in this range here | 44 62 % | 43s 37 % | 42s Not in this range here |
| 3 | A3o Not in this range here | K3o Not in this range here | Q3o Not in this range here | J3o Not in this range here | T3o Not in this range here | 93o Not in this range here | 83o Not in this range here | 73o Not in this range here | 63o Not in this range here | 53o Not in this range here | 43o Not in this range here | 33 61 % | 32s Not in this range here |
| 2 | A2o Not in this range here | K2o Not in this range here | Q2o Not in this range here | J2o Not in this range here | T2o Not in this range here | 92o Not in this range here | 82o Not in this range here | 72o Not in this range here | 62o Not in this range here | 52o Not in this range here | 42o Not in this range here | 32o Not in this range here | 22 49 % |
Each cell shows the share of the class's possible combos in the range.
| A | K | Q | J | T | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | AA 37 % | AKs 13 % | AQs 12 % | AJs 10 % | ATs 15 % | A9s 82 % | A8s 98 % | A7s 74 % | A6s 91 % | A5s 81 % | A4s 5 % | A3s 5 % | A2s 6 % |
| K | AKo 57 % | KK 53 % | KQs 3 % | KJs 29 % | KTs 34 % | K9s 80 % | K8s 78 % | K7s 81 % | K6s 66 % | K5s 63 % | K4s 18 % | K3s 71 % | K2s 35 % |
| Q | AQo 41 % | KQo 24 % | QQ 46 % | QJs 52 % | QTs 38 % | Q9s 68 % | Q8s 68 % | Q7s 77 % | Q6s 64 % | Q5s 54 % | Q4s 36 % | Q3s 62 % | Q2s <1 % |
| J | AJo 48 % | KJo 46 % | QJo 57 % | JJ 62 % | JTs 30 % | J9s 74 % | J8s 58 % | J7s 90 % | J6s 44 % | J5s 14 % | J4s Not in this range here | J3s Not in this range here | J2s Not in this range here |
| T | ATo 45 % | KTo 71 % | QTo 69 % | JTo 65 % | TT 77 % | T9s 98 % | T8s 57 % | T7s 66 % | T6s 21 % | T5s Not in this range here | T4s Not in this range here | T3s Not in this range here | T2s Not in this range here |
| 9 | A9o 28 % | K9o 63 % | Q9o 52 % | J9o 51 % | T9o 55 % | 99 97 % | 98s 73 % | 97s 85 % | 96s Not in this range here | 95s Not in this range here | 94s Not in this range here | 93s Not in this range here | 92s Not in this range here |
| 8 | A8o 60 % | K8o 29 % | Q8o Not in this range here | J8o Not in this range here | T8o 1 % | 98o Not in this range here | 88 73 % | 87s 67 % | 86s 77 % | 85s Not in this range here | 84s Not in this range here | 83s Not in this range here | 82s Not in this range here |
| 7 | A7o 36 % | K7o 9 % | Q7o Not in this range here | J7o Not in this range here | T7o Not in this range here | 97o Not in this range here | 87o Not in this range here | 77 81 % | 76s 77 % | 75s <1 % | 74s Not in this range here | 73s Not in this range here | 72s Not in this range here |
| 6 | A6o 52 % | K6o Not in this range here | Q6o Not in this range here | J6o Not in this range here | T6o Not in this range here | 96o Not in this range here | 86o Not in this range here | 76o Not in this range here | 66 90 % | 65s 67 % | 64s Not in this range here | 63s Not in this range here | 62s Not in this range here |
| 5 | A5o 44 % | K5o Not in this range here | Q5o Not in this range here | J5o Not in this range here | T5o Not in this range here | 95o Not in this range here | 85o Not in this range here | 75o Not in this range here | 65o Not in this range here | 55 93 % | 54s 21 % | 53s Not in this range here | 52s Not in this range here |
| 4 | A4o 77 % | K4o Not in this range here | Q4o Not in this range here | J4o Not in this range here | T4o Not in this range here | 94o Not in this range here | 84o Not in this range here | 74o Not in this range here | 64o Not in this range here | 54o Not in this range here | 44 6 % | 43s Not in this range here | 42s Not in this range here |
| 3 | A3o 33 % | K3o Not in this range here | Q3o Not in this range here | J3o Not in this range here | T3o Not in this range here | 93o Not in this range here | 83o Not in this range here | 73o Not in this range here | 63o Not in this range here | 53o Not in this range here | 43o Not in this range here | 33 26 % | 32s Not in this range here |
| 2 | A2o 4 % | K2o Not in this range here | Q2o Not in this range here | J2o Not in this range here | T2o Not in this range here | 92o Not in this range here | 82o Not in this range here | 72o Not in this range here | 62o Not in this range here | 52o Not in this range here | 42o Not in this range here | 32o Not in this range here | 22 1 % |
Each cell shows the share of the class's possible combos in the range.
Where the numbers come from
The numbers come from a commercial solver's precomputed solution for a 6-max cash game at 100 big blinds, with a 5% rake capped at 15 bb and 2.5 bb opens. It allows one bet size at each decision. Here the button's c-bet is 1.8 bb into 5.5 bb and the big blind's check-raise goes to 10 bb. Two players see the flop. Pots with three or more players aren't covered, and neither are bet sizes outside this solution. Poker Skill read the numbers and wrote the explanation.
- Line to this decision
-
F-F-F-R2.5-F-C·flop X-R1.8 - Solver notation
-
8d6s5c. F fold, X check, C call, R2.5 a bet or raise to 2.5 bb, RAI all-in.
Solution read Oct 1, 2026. Each hand-class row is the solver's own total for that class. Ranges are shown by class: how many combos of each class are in the range, and what share that is of the combos the board leaves possible.