Solver answer
K♣2♣ on Q♣ J♣ 8♥ facing a c-bet: call or raise?
6-max cash, 100 big blinds · Button opens, big blind calls · Flop Q♣ J♣ 8♥ · Button bets 1.8 bb into 5.5 bb · Big blind to act
Updated
The solver's answer
K♣4♣ and K♣6♣, standing in for K♣2♣.
K♣4♣
Raise 74% Call 26%
⅓ pot · to 4.8 bb
K♣6♣
Call 71% Raise 29%
The king-high flush draws never fold: some raise more than they call, others call more than they raise.
K♣2♣ almost never gets here: the big blind 3-bets it before the flop 99.8% of the time. Two king-high flush draws that the big blind does call with stand in: K♣4♣ and K♣6♣.
Q♣J♣8♥
K♣4♣ Stand-in
K♣6♣ Stand-in
- 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 Q♣ J♣ 8♥ flop, the big blind check-raises K♣4♣ 74% of the time and calls K♣6♣ 71%, never folding either, according to a solver answer published free by Poker Skill.
Why the king-high flush draws never fold
- The price is low: calling 1.8 bb to win 7.3 bb needs 19.8% equity, and K♣4♣ has 46.9% against the button's bet.
- Calling and raising are worth almost the same for each of them: K♣4♣ 2.46 bb against 2.47 bb, and K♣6♣ 2.38 bb against 2.36 bb. The solve splits each of them between the two.
- A king of clubs makes the second-best possible flush, behind the ace, hence the name second-nut flush draw. The raise is a semi-bluff that can take the pot now or make the flush later.
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 100 % | ATs C 85 % | A9s F 51 % | A8s C 95 % | A7s F 76 % | A6s F 76 % | A5s F 76 % | A4s F 76 % | A3s F 76 % | A2s F 77 % |
| K | AKo Not in this range here | KK Not in this range here | KQs C 76 % | KJs C 99 % | KTs C 61 % | K9s C 72 % | K8s C 100 % | K7s F 75 % | K6s F 76 % | K5s F 76 % | K4s F 77 % | K3s F 77 % | K2s F 78 % |
| Q | AQo C 90 % | KQo C 86 % | QQ Not in this range here | QJs C 72 % | QTs C 88 % | Q9s C 78 % | Q8s C 100 % | Q7s C 88 % | Q6s C 96 % | Q5s C 100 % | Q4s C 100 % | Q3s C 100 % | Q2s C 100 % |
| J | AJo C 98 % | KJo C 99 % | QJo C 68 % | JJ Not in this range here | JTs C 87 % | J9s C 91 % | J8s C 73 % | J7s C 93 % | J6s C 100 % | J5s C 100 % | J4s C 100 % | J3s Not in this range here | J2s Not in this range here |
| T | ATo C 73 % | KTo C 69 % | QTo C 92 % | JTo C 89 % | TT Not in this range here | T9s R 76 % | T8s C 80 % | T7s F 49 % | T6s F 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 F 50 % | K9o C 68 % | Q9o C 92 % | J9o C 81 % | T9o C 54 % | 99 C 91 % | 98s C 88 % | 97s F 65 % | 96s F 69 % | 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 98 % | 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 54 % | 87s C 82 % | 86s C 86 % | 85s C 100 % | 84s Not in this range here | 83s Not in this range here | 82s Not in this range here |
| 7 | A7o F 92 % | 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 50 % | 76s F 75 % | 75s F 76 % | 74s F 76 % | 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 50 % | 65s F 76 % | 64s F 75 % | 63s F 75 % | 62s Not in this range here |
| 5 | A5o F 96 % | 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 54 % | 54s F 75 % | 53s F 75 % | 52s F 75 % |
| 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 F 70 % | 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 80 % | 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 64 % |
- Fold: 32.73% of the range (98.54 combos)
- Call (1.8 bb): 54.85% of the range (165.15 combos)
- Raise ⅓ pot (to 4.8 bb): 12.42% of the range (37.38 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 ⅓ pot (to 4.8 bb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AJs | 2.983 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| ATs | 3.908 | 0.0% | 84.6% | 15.4% |
| A9s | 3.886 | 51.0% | 28.0% | 21.1% |
| A8s | 2.975 | 0.0% | 94.5% | 5.4% |
| A7s | 3.949 | 76.0% | 19.1% | 4.9% |
| A6s | 3.952 | 75.9% | 18.2% | 5.9% |
| A5s | 3.903 | 76.2% | 13.3% | 10.5% |
| A4s | 3.962 | 75.7% | 20.9% | 3.4% |
| A3s | 3.954 | 75.8% | 15.7% | 8.4% |
| A2s | 3.899 | 76.9% | 9.8% | 13.4% |
| KQs | 0.001 | 0.0% | 76.1% | 23.9% |
| KJs | 2.631 | 0.0% | 98.8% | 1.2% |
| KTs | 3.858 | 0.0% | 60.9% | 39.1% |
| K9s | 3.973 | 0.0% | 72.0% | 28.0% |
| K8s | 2.998 | 0.0% | 99.5% | 0.5% |
| K7s | 3.979 | 75.4% | 18.3% | 6.4% |
| K6s | 3.907 | 75.9% | 17.0% | 7.1% |
| K5s | 3.444 | 75.9% | 16.2% | 7.9% |
| K4s | 3.277 | 77.3% | 5.9% | 16.8% |
| K3s | 2.212 | 77.3% | 8.6% | 14.1% |
| K2s | 0.007 | 78.1% | 6.3% | 15.6% |
| AQo | 2.716 | 0.0% | 89.8% | 10.2% |
| KQo | 8.95 | 0.0% | 86.0% | 14.0% |
| QJs | 2.829 | 0.0% | 71.8% | 28.2% |
| QTs | 2.994 | 0.0% | 88.4% | 11.6% |
| Q9s | 2.997 | 0.0% | 78.1% | 21.9% |
| Q8s | 1.482 | 0.0% | 99.6% | 0.4% |
| Q7s | 2.276 | 0.0% | 87.5% | 12.5% |
| Q6s | 2.239 | 0.0% | 95.8% | 4.2% |
| Q5s | 0.486 | 0.0% | 99.8% | 0.2% |
| Q4s | 2.943 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Q3s | 1.442 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Q2s | 0.11 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| AJo | 8.999 | 0.0% | 98.1% | 1.9% |
| KJo | 3.002 | 0.0% | 99.4% | 0.6% |
| QJo | 3.116 | 0.0% | 67.5% | 32.5% |
| JTs | 2.959 | 0.0% | 86.7% | 13.3% |
| J9s | 2.991 | 0.0% | 90.6% | 9.4% |
| J8s | 1.998 | 0.0% | 73.1% | 26.9% |
| J7s | 2.462 | 0.0% | 92.6% | 7.4% |
| J6s | 1.175 | 0.0% | 99.9% | 0.1% |
| J5s | 1.285 | 0.0% | 99.9% | 0.0% |
| J4s | 0.326 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| ATo | 10.728 | 0.0% | 72.5% | 27.5% |
| KTo | 4.593 | 0.0% | 68.6% | 31.4% |
| QTo | 4.114 | 0.0% | 91.9% | 8.1% |
| JTo | 5.801 | 0.0% | 89.3% | 10.7% |
| T9s | 3.678 | 0.0% | 24.3% | 75.7% |
| T8s | 2.985 | 0.0% | 79.9% | 20.0% |
| T7s | 3.852 | 48.6% | 16.3% | 35.1% |
| T6s | 1.533 | 51.3% | 13.5% | 35.2% |
| A9o | 11.766 | 49.5% | 43.4% | 7.1% |
| K9o | 8.793 | 0.0% | 68.3% | 31.7% |
| Q9o | 2.739 | 0.0% | 91.6% | 8.4% |
| J9o | 0.967 | 0.0% | 80.9% | 19.1% |
| T9o | 4.177 | 0.0% | 53.6% | 46.4% |
| 99 | 5.382 | 0.0% | 90.7% | 9.2% |
| 98s | 2.997 | 0.0% | 88.3% | 11.7% |
| 97s | 3.908 | 65.4% | 21.6% | 13.1% |
| 96s | 3.887 | 69.4% | 13.2% | 17.3% |
| A8o | 7.624 | 0.0% | 97.8% | 2.2% |
| 88 | 2.859 | 0.0% | 54.1% | 45.9% |
| 87s | 2.982 | 0.1% | 82.2% | 17.8% |
| 86s | 2.998 | 0.1% | 86.1% | 13.9% |
| 85s | 2.996 | 0.0% | 99.6% | 0.3% |
| A7o | 6.265 | 91.6% | 8.3% | 0.1% |
| 77 | 5.822 | 50.0% | 50.0% | 0.0% |
| 76s | 3.963 | 75.0% | 24.0% | 0.9% |
| 75s | 3.945 | 76.0% | 14.5% | 9.4% |
| 74s | 2.783 | 76.0% | 5.9% | 18.1% |
| 66 | 5.232 | 50.4% | 49.6% | 0.0% |
| 65s | 3.902 | 75.8% | 7.1% | 17.0% |
| 64s | 3.995 | 75.1% | 23.1% | 1.9% |
| 63s | 0.052 | 75.0% | 24.8% | 0.2% |
| A5o | 3.16 | 96.4% | 3.5% | 0.1% |
| 55 | 3.506 | 54.2% | 45.8% | 0.0% |
| 54s | 3.944 | 75.0% | 24.4% | 0.5% |
| 53s | 3.999 | 75.0% | 25.0% | 0.0% |
| 52s | 0.39 | 75.0% | 24.9% | 0.1% |
| A4o | 0.142 | 99.6% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| 44 | 5.642 | 69.8% | 30.1% | 0.1% |
| 43s | 3.997 | 75.0% | 25.0% | 0.0% |
| 33 | 5.934 | 80.3% | 19.6% | 0.1% |
| 22 | 5.605 | 64.2% | 25.6% | 10.1% |
What each action is worth with K♣4♣
| Action | How often | Expected value |
|---|---|---|
| Fold | 0.00% | 0 bb |
| Call (1.8 bb) | 25.90% | 2.456 bb |
| Raise ⅓ pot (to 4.8 bb) | 74.10% | 2.469 bb |
What each action is worth with K♣6♣
| Action | How often | Expected value |
|---|---|---|
| Fold | 0.00% | 0 bb |
| Call (1.8 bb) | 70.66% | 2.376 bb |
| Raise ⅓ pot (to 4.8 bb) | 29.34% | 2.36 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 Q♣ J♣ 8♥: 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 99 % | ATs 98 % | A9s 97 % | A8s 99 % | A7s 99 % | A6s 99 % | A5s 98 % | A4s 99 % | A3s 99 % | A2s 98 % |
| K | AKo Not in this range here | KK Not in this range here | KQs <1 % | KJs 88 % | KTs 96 % | K9s 99 % | K8s 100 % | K7s 100 % | K6s 98 % | K5s 86 % | K4s 82 % | K3s 55 % | K2s <1 % |
| Q | AQo 30 % | KQo 99 % | QQ Not in this range here | QJs 94 % | QTs 100 % | Q9s 100 % | Q8s 74 % | Q7s 76 % | Q6s 75 % | Q5s 16 % | Q4s 98 % | Q3s 48 % | Q2s 4 % |
| J | AJo 100 % | KJo 33 % | QJo 52 % | JJ Not in this range here | JTs 99 % | J9s 100 % | J8s 100 % | J7s 82 % | J6s 39 % | J5s 43 % | J4s 11 % | J3s Not in this range here | J2s Not in this range here |
| T | ATo 89 % | KTo 38 % | QTo 46 % | JTo 65 % | TT Not in this range here | T9s 92 % | T8s 100 % | T7s 96 % | T6s 38 % | 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 98 % | K9o 73 % | Q9o 30 % | J9o 11 % | T9o 35 % | 99 90 % | 98s 100 % | 97s 98 % | 96s 97 % | 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 85 % | 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 95 % | 87s 99 % | 86s 100 % | 85s 100 % | 84s Not in this range here | 83s Not in this range here | 82s Not in this range here |
| 7 | A7o 52 % | 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 97 % | 76s 99 % | 75s 99 % | 74s 70 % | 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 87 % | 65s 98 % | 64s 100 % | 63s 1 % | 62s Not in this range here |
| 5 | A5o 26 % | 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 99 % | 53s 100 % | 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 94 % | 43s 100 % | 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 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 93 % |
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 59 % | AKs 77 % | AQs 66 % | AJs 48 % | ATs 68 % | A9s 51 % | A8s 37 % | A7s 32 % | A6s 48 % | A5s 49 % | A4s 47 % | A3s 50 % | A2s 72 % |
| K | AKo 66 % | KK 81 % | KQs 74 % | KJs 64 % | KTs 75 % | K9s 57 % | K8s 44 % | K7s 52 % | K6s 59 % | K5s 64 % | K4s 57 % | K3s 64 % | K2s 63 % |
| Q | AQo 58 % | KQo 54 % | QQ 80 % | QJs 68 % | QTs 66 % | Q9s 71 % | Q8s 77 % | Q7s 61 % | Q6s 76 % | Q5s 72 % | Q4s 52 % | Q3s 32 % | Q2s Not in this range here |
| J | AJo 36 % | KJo 33 % | QJo 68 % | JJ 85 % | JTs 52 % | J9s 47 % | J8s 81 % | J7s 36 % | J6s 25 % | J5s 13 % | J4s Not in this range here | J3s Not in this range here | J2s Not in this range here |
| T | ATo 67 % | KTo 72 % | QTo 60 % | JTo 52 % | TT 65 % | T9s 89 % | T8s 37 % | T7s 49 % | T6s 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 54 % | K9o 70 % | Q9o 67 % | J9o 53 % | T9o 79 % | 99 39 % | 98s 34 % | 97s 65 % | 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 26 % | K8o 27 % | Q8o Not in this range here | J8o Not in this range here | T8o 3 % | 98o Not in this range here | 88 72 % | 87s 20 % | 86s 15 % | 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 46 % | 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 79 % | 75s 1 % | 74s Not in this range here | 73s Not in this range here | 72s Not in this range here |
| 6 | A6o 50 % | 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 9 % | 65s 72 % | 64s Not in this range here | 63s Not in this range here | 62s Not in this range here |
| 5 | A5o 55 % | 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 13 % | 54s 36 % | 53s Not in this range here | 52s Not in this range here |
| 4 | A4o 54 % | 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 29 % | 43s Not in this range here | 42s Not in this range here |
| 3 | A3o 58 % | 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 56 % | 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 13 % |
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 4.8 bb. K♣2♣ reaches this decision so rarely that its own numbers rest on a sliver of its combinations, so K♣4♣ and K♣6♣ stand in. 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
-
QcJc8h·Kc4c·Kc6c·Kc2c. 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.