Solver answer
A♠3♠ on K♠ Q♠ 9♦: call or check-raise?
6-max cash, 100 big blinds · Button opens, big blind calls · Flop K♠ Q♠ 9♦ · Button bets 1.8 bb into 5.5 bb · Big blind to act
Updated
The solver's answer
Call 65% Raise 35%
A♠3♠ never folds: it calls most of the time and check-raises the rest, two options worth about the same.
The solver plays A♠3♠ along this line to this decision 79.04% of the time; otherwise it acts differently earlier in the hand.
K♠Q♠9♦
A♠3♠ You
- 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, the big blind calls and the button c-bets 1.8 bb into 5.5 bb on a K♠ Q♠ 9♦ flop, the big blind calls with A♠3♠ 65% of the time and check-raises to 10 bb 35%, according to a solver answer published free by Poker Skill.
Why A♠3♠ calls or check-raises, and never folds
- The price is low: calling 1.8 bb to win 7.3 bb needs 19.8% equity, and A♠3♠ has 51.4% against the button's bet.
- Calling and check-raising are worth almost the same: 3.30 bb against 3.28 bb. The raise is a semi-bluff: it can win the pot now or make the nut flush later.
- The big blind's nut flush draws as a group raise 41% of the time, against 15% for its other flush draws.
Poker Skill's free app has Practice vs AI, where you play full heads-up hands against an AI opponent, with Coach Max grading each decision. Play a heads-up hand vs AI
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 83 % | ATs C 79 % | A9s C 87 % | A8s F 77 % | A7s F 78 % | A6s F 80 % | A5s F 77 % | A4s F 78 % | A3s F 79 % | A2s F 77 % |
| K | AKo Not in this range here | KK Not in this range here | KQs Not in this range here | KJs C 93 % | KTs C 100 % | K9s C 100 % | K8s C 100 % | K7s C 100 % | K6s C 100 % | K5s C 100 % | K4s C 100 % | K3s C 100 % | K2s C 100 % |
| Q | AQo C 100 % | KQo C 76 % | QQ Not in this range here | QJs C 96 % | QTs C 97 % | Q9s C 100 % | Q8s C 100 % | Q7s C 100 % | Q6s C 100 % | Q5s C 100 % | Q4s C 100 % | Q3s C 100 % | Q2s C 100 % |
| J | AJo C 69 % | KJo C 100 % | QJo C 91 % | JJ Not in this range here | JTs R 69 % | J9s C 100 % | J8s F 48 % | J7s F 55 % | J6s F 52 % | J5s F 46 % | J4s R 63 % | J3s Not in this range here | J2s Not in this range here |
| T | ATo C 67 % | KTo C 100 % | QTo C 78 % | JTo C 64 % | TT Not in this range here | T9s C 100 % | T8s C 52 % | T7s C 53 % | T6s R 51 % | 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 96 % | K9o C 91 % | Q9o C 93 % | J9o C 85 % | T9o C 86 % | 99 C 61 % | 98s C 100 % | 97s C 100 % | 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 F 84 % | 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 50 % | 87s F 77 % | 86s F 79 % | 85s F 81 % | 84s Not in this range here | 83s Not in this range here | 82s Not in this range here |
| 7 | A7o F 84 % | 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 F 51 % | 76s F 78 % | 75s F 76 % | 74s F 82 % | 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 F 52 % | 65s F 77 % | 64s F 77 % | 63s F 75 % | 62s Not in this range here |
| 5 | A5o F 90 % | 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 F 55 % | 54s F 76 % | 53s F 76 % | 52s F 75 % |
| 4 | A4o F 99 % | 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 F 86 % | 43s F 75 % | 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 F 97 % | 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 F 88 % |
- Fold: 35.81% of the range (100.66 combos)
- Call (1.8 bb): 54.72% of the range (153.84 combos)
- Raise 0.9 pot (to 10 bb): 9.47% of the range (26.62 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 | 3.544 | 0.0% | 83.0% | 17.0% |
| ATs | 3.421 | 0.0% | 78.8% | 21.2% |
| A9s | 2.812 | 0.0% | 87.4% | 12.6% |
| A8s | 3.906 | 76.8% | 14.9% | 8.3% |
| A7s | 3.823 | 78.4% | 12.2% | 9.4% |
| A6s | 3.732 | 80.3% | 10.4% | 9.3% |
| A5s | 3.863 | 76.8% | 15.3% | 7.9% |
| A4s | 3.797 | 77.9% | 16.1% | 6.0% |
| A3s | 3.743 | 78.9% | 13.7% | 7.4% |
| A2s | 3.785 | 77.3% | 8.0% | 14.7% |
| KJs | 2.327 | 0.0% | 92.7% | 7.3% |
| KTs | 2.697 | 0.0% | 99.8% | 0.2% |
| K9s | 1.922 | 0.0% | 99.6% | 0.4% |
| K8s | 2.876 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| K7s | 2.668 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| K6s | 2.587 | 0.0% | 99.9% | 0.0% |
| K5s | 2.519 | 0.0% | 99.9% | 0.0% |
| K4s | 2.4 | 0.0% | 99.9% | 0.1% |
| K3s | 1.657 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| K2s | 0.005 | 0.0% | 99.9% | 0.1% |
| AQo | 2.714 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| KQo | 5.341 | 0.0% | 75.7% | 24.3% |
| QJs | 2.793 | 0.0% | 95.9% | 4.1% |
| QTs | 2.793 | 0.0% | 97.1% | 2.9% |
| Q9s | 1.73 | 0.0% | 99.9% | 0.1% |
| Q8s | 2.137 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Q7s | 2.207 | 0.0% | 99.9% | 0.1% |
| Q6s | 2.196 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Q5s | 0.484 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Q4s | 2.923 | 0.0% | 99.9% | 0.0% |
| Q3s | 1.434 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Q2s | 0.11 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| AJo | 10.887 | 0.0% | 68.8% | 31.2% |
| KJo | 2.775 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| QJo | 4.531 | 0.0% | 91.4% | 8.6% |
| JTs | 3.463 | 0.0% | 31.1% | 68.9% |
| J9s | 2.934 | 0.0% | 99.9% | 0.1% |
| J8s | 3.71 | 48.4% | 37.1% | 14.5% |
| J7s | 2.92 | 54.6% | 13.8% | 31.6% |
| J6s | 1.403 | 52.2% | 27.1% | 20.8% |
| J5s | 1.159 | 45.7% | 29.9% | 24.4% |
| J4s | 0.221 | 34.2% | 2.9% | 62.9% |
| ATo | 10.087 | 0.0% | 66.6% | 33.4% |
| KTo | 3.389 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| QTo | 3.93 | 0.0% | 77.7% | 22.3% |
| JTo | 6.592 | 0.0% | 63.9% | 36.1% |
| T9s | 2.809 | 0.0% | 99.9% | 0.1% |
| T8s | 3.326 | 23.1% | 52.2% | 24.7% |
| T7s | 3.281 | 31.1% | 53.2% | 15.7% |
| T6s | 1.358 | 34.1% | 14.8% | 51.2% |
| A9o | 8.995 | 0.0% | 96.4% | 3.6% |
| K9o | 4.814 | 0.0% | 91.4% | 8.6% |
| Q9o | 1.952 | 0.0% | 93.0% | 7.0% |
| J9o | 0.978 | 0.0% | 84.7% | 15.3% |
| T9o | 3.217 | 0.0% | 86.1% | 13.9% |
| 99 | 2.257 | 0.0% | 60.8% | 39.2% |
| 98s | 2.915 | 0.1% | 99.9% | 0.0% |
| 97s | 2.94 | 0.1% | 99.9% | 0.0% |
| 96s | 2.893 | 0.1% | 99.9% | 0.0% |
| A8o | 9.326 | 83.8% | 15.9% | 0.3% |
| 88 | 5.919 | 49.8% | 50.1% | 0.0% |
| 87s | 3.891 | 76.6% | 23.3% | 0.1% |
| 86s | 3.818 | 78.6% | 16.0% | 5.4% |
| 85s | 3.716 | 80.6% | 18.1% | 1.3% |
| A7o | 5.754 | 84.1% | 15.8% | 0.1% |
| 77 | 5.745 | 50.7% | 49.3% | 0.0% |
| 76s | 3.838 | 77.5% | 18.6% | 3.9% |
| 75s | 3.932 | 76.3% | 8.4% | 15.4% |
| 74s | 2.592 | 81.6% | 12.9% | 5.5% |
| 66 | 5.175 | 52.4% | 47.6% | 0.0% |
| 65s | 3.834 | 77.2% | 21.1% | 1.7% |
| 64s | 3.913 | 76.7% | 23.3% | 0.1% |
| 63s | 0.052 | 75.2% | 24.8% | 0.0% |
| A5o | 2.747 | 90.1% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| 55 | 3.497 | 55.2% | 44.8% | 0.0% |
| 54s | 3.872 | 76.4% | 23.5% | 0.0% |
| 53s | 3.931 | 76.3% | 23.7% | 0.0% |
| 52s | 0.389 | 75.3% | 24.7% | 0.0% |
| A4o | 0.131 | 98.5% | 0.1% | 1.4% |
| 44 | 5.461 | 85.8% | 14.2% | 0.0% |
| 43s | 3.976 | 75.4% | 24.6% | 0.0% |
| 33 | 5.723 | 96.7% | 3.2% | 0.0% |
| 22 | 5.209 | 87.7% | 10.8% | 1.6% |
What each action is worth with A♠3♠
| Action | How often | Expected value |
|---|---|---|
| Fold | 0.00% | 0 bb |
| Call (1.8 bb) | 64.85% | 3.299 bb |
| Raise 0.9 pot (to 10 bb) | 35.15% | 3.28 bb |
Ranges, pot and stacks
- The hand so far: 6-max cash, 100 big blinds · Button opens to 2.5 bb, big blind calls · Flop K♠ Q♠ 9♦: 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 89 % | ATs 86 % | A9s 94 % | A8s 98 % | A7s 96 % | A6s 93 % | A5s 97 % | A4s 95 % | A3s 94 % | A2s 95 % |
| K | AKo Not in this range here | KK Not in this range here | KQs Not in this range here | KJs 78 % | KTs 90 % | K9s 96 % | K8s 96 % | K7s 89 % | K6s 86 % | K5s 84 % | K4s 80 % | K3s 55 % | K2s <1 % |
| Q | AQo 30 % | KQo 89 % | QQ Not in this range here | QJs 93 % | QTs 93 % | Q9s 87 % | Q8s 71 % | Q7s 74 % | Q6s 73 % | Q5s 16 % | Q4s 97 % | Q3s 48 % | Q2s 4 % |
| J | AJo 91 % | KJo 31 % | QJo 50 % | JJ Not in this range here | JTs 87 % | J9s 98 % | J8s 93 % | J7s 73 % | J6s 35 % | J5s 29 % | J4s 6 % | J3s Not in this range here | J2s Not in this range here |
| T | ATo 84 % | KTo 38 % | QTo 44 % | JTo 55 % | TT Not in this range here | T9s 94 % | T8s 83 % | T7s 82 % | T6s 34 % | 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 100 % | K9o 69 % | Q9o 28 % | J9o 11 % | T9o 36 % | 99 75 % | 98s 97 % | 97s 98 % | 96s 96 % | 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 78 % | 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 99 % | 87s 97 % | 86s 95 % | 85s 93 % | 84s Not in this range here | 83s Not in this range here | 82s Not in this range here |
| 7 | A7o 48 % | 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 96 % | 76s 96 % | 75s 98 % | 74s 65 % | 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 86 % | 65s 96 % | 64s 98 % | 63s 1 % | 62s Not in this range here |
| 5 | A5o 23 % | 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 58 % | 54s 97 % | 53s 98 % | 52s 10 % |
| 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 91 % | 43s 99 % | 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 95 % | 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 87 % |
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 55 % | AKs 69 % | AQs 26 % | AJs 60 % | ATs 61 % | A9s 29 % | A8s 36 % | A7s 42 % | A6s 59 % | A5s 43 % | A4s 44 % | A3s 56 % | A2s 57 % |
| K | AKo 37 % | KK 79 % | KQs 72 % | KJs 73 % | KTs 62 % | K9s 27 % | K8s 51 % | K7s 48 % | K6s 44 % | K5s 35 % | K4s 40 % | K3s 33 % | K2s 22 % |
| Q | AQo 24 % | KQo 52 % | QQ 67 % | QJs 49 % | QTs 45 % | Q9s 57 % | Q8s 15 % | Q7s 25 % | Q6s 23 % | Q5s 12 % | Q4s 13 % | Q3s 9 % | Q2s Not in this range here |
| J | AJo 53 % | KJo 57 % | QJo 36 % | JJ 49 % | JTs 77 % | J9s 14 % | J8s 52 % | J7s 70 % | J6s 60 % | J5s 67 % | J4s Not in this range here | J3s Not in this range here | J2s Not in this range here |
| T | ATo 57 % | KTo 56 % | QTo 36 % | JTo 73 % | TT 38 % | T9s 36 % | T8s 54 % | T7s 56 % | T6s 66 % | 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 5 % | K9o 55 % | Q9o 49 % | J9o 15 % | T9o 17 % | 99 58 % | 98s 10 % | 97s 3 % | 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 32 % | K8o 53 % | Q8o Not in this range here | J8o Not in this range here | T8o 7 % | 98o Not in this range here | 88 <1 % | 87s 35 % | 86s 45 % | 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 45 % | K7o 12 % | 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 <1 % | 76s 46 % | 75s <1 % | 74s Not in this range here | 73s Not in this range here | 72s Not in this range here |
| 6 | A6o 53 % | 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 3 % | 65s 49 % | 64s Not in this range here | 63s Not in this range here | 62s Not in this range here |
| 5 | A5o 53 % | 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 9 % | 54s 17 % | 53s Not in this range here | 52s Not in this range here |
| 4 | A4o 47 % | 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 33 % | 43s Not in this range here | 42s Not in this range here |
| 3 | A3o 47 % | 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 59 % | 32s Not in this range here |
| 2 | A2o 3 % | 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 17 % |
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 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
-
KsQs9d·As3s. 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.