Solver answer
K♠Q♦ vs a check-raise at 40bb: call or re-raise?
6-max cash, 40 big blinds · Button opens, big blind calls · Flop Q♠ 9♦ 4♥ · Big blind raises to 9.5 bb into 5.5 bb · Button to act
Updated
The solver's answer
Call 78% Raise 22%
K♠Q♦ never folds to the check-raise, and mostly calls.
The solver plays K♠Q♦ along this line to this decision 99.96% of the time; otherwise it acts differently earlier in the hand.
Q♠9♦4♥
K♠Q♦ You
- Pot
- 5.5 bb
- Behind
- 33.5 bb
- Your bet
- 4 bb
- Big blind
- Raises to 9.5 bb
In a 6-max cash game at 40 big blinds, after the button opens to 2.5 bb, the big blind calls, the button c-bets 4 bb on a Q♠ 9♦ 4♥ flop and the big blind check-raises to 9.5 bb, the button calls with K♠Q♦ 78% of the time and re-raises to 15.5 bb 22%, according to a solver answer published free by Poker Skill.
Why K♠Q♦ never folds to the check-raise
- With short stacks the price is low and top pair is strong: calling 5.5 bb to win 19 bb needs 22.4% equity, and K♠Q♦ has 69.5% against the big blind's check-raising range.
- Low stack-to-pot ratios favor made hands like top pair, and calling and re-raising are worth about the same here: 14.13 bb against 14.01 bb.
- The button still folds 41% of its range, mostly its ace-high hands, which fold 90% of the time. Its top pairs never fold.
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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 C 71 % | AKs C 88 % | AQs R 97 % | AJs F 77 % | ATs F 55 % | A9s C 100 % | A8s F 56 % | A7s F 55 % | A6s F 77 % | A5s F 49 % | A4s C 100 % | A3s C 48 % | A2s F 48 % |
| K | AKo F 98 % | KK R 94 % | KQs C 66 % | KJs C 77 % | KTs C 99 % | K9s C 85 % | K8s F 100 % | K7s F 100 % | K6s F 100 % | K5s F 100 % | K4s C 64 % | K3s F 100 % | K2s F 100 % |
| Q | AQo R 99 % | KQo C 69 % | QQ C 100 % | QJs C 93 % | QTs C 95 % | Q9s C 74 % | Q8s C 100 % | Q7s C 100 % | Q6s C 100 % | Q5s C 100 % | Q4s C 85 % | Q3s Not in this range here | Q2s Not in this range here |
| J | AJo F 99 % | KJo C 76 % | QJo C 73 % | JJ F 35 % | JTs C 92 % | J9s C 77 % | J8s R 81 % | J7s F 100 % | J6s F 100 % | J5s F 100 % | J4s Not in this range here | J3s Not in this range here | J2s Not in this range here |
| T | ATo F 100 % | KTo C 65 % | QTo C 94 % | JTo C 100 % | TT F 90 % | T9s C 100 % | T8s C 83 % | T7s F 100 % | T6s Not in this range here | 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 100 % | K9o F 40 % | Q9o R 63 % | J9o R 51 % | T9o C 98 % | 99 C 72 % | 98s C 100 % | 97s C 100 % | 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 F 100 % | K8o F 100 % | Q8o C 100 % | J8o Not in this range here | T8o Not in this range here | 98o Not in this range here | 88 F 77 % | 87s F 100 % | 86s Not in this range here | 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 F 99 % | K7o F 100 % | 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 R 90 % | 76s F 96 % | 75s Not in this range here | 74s Not in this range here | 73s Not in this range here | 72s Not in this range here |
| 6 | A6o F 100 % | 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 R 80 % | 65s F 95 % | 64s Not in this range here | 63s Not in this range here | 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 R 82 % | 54s Not in this range here | 53s Not in this range here | 52s Not in this range here |
| 4 | A4o C 88 % | 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 94 % | 43s Not in this range here | 42s Not in this range here |
| 3 | A3o F 97 % | 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 98 % | 32s Not in this range here |
| 2 | A2o F 95 % | 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 Not in this range here |
- Fold: 41.27% of the range (97.99 combos)
- Call (9.5 bb): 40.22% of the range (95.49 combos)
- Raise ¼ pot (to 15.5 bb): 18.50% of the range (43.92 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 (9.5 bb) | Raise ¼ pot (to 15.5 bb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA | 5.998 | 0.0% | 70.8% | 29.2% |
| AKs | 1.04 | 11.6% | 88.3% | 0.1% |
| AQs | 2.998 | 0.0% | 3.3% | 96.7% |
| AJs | 0.464 | 76.6% | 23.1% | 0.3% |
| ATs | 0.389 | 55.0% | 44.9% | 0.1% |
| A9s | 2.637 | 0.0% | 99.9% | 0.1% |
| A8s | 0.769 | 56.2% | 43.3% | 0.5% |
| A7s | 1.184 | 55.2% | 27.2% | 17.6% |
| A6s | 0.865 | 77.4% | 6.8% | 15.8% |
| A5s | 1.717 | 49.0% | 47.5% | 3.5% |
| A4s | 2.561 | 0.1% | 99.6% | 0.3% |
| A3s | 2.117 | 45.3% | 48.2% | 6.5% |
| A2s | 1.974 | 47.5% | 39.8% | 12.7% |
| AKo | 0.855 | 98.2% | 1.3% | 0.6% |
| KK | 6 | 0.0% | 6.2% | 93.8% |
| KQs | 2.992 | 0.0% | 65.7% | 34.3% |
| KJs | 3.425 | 0.1% | 76.6% | 23.3% |
| KTs | 3.388 | 0.5% | 99.2% | 0.3% |
| K9s | 1.565 | 12.0% | 84.6% | 3.5% |
| K8s | 2.885 | 99.9% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| K7s | 2.631 | 99.8% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| K6s | 2.989 | 99.8% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| K5s | 3.184 | 99.8% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| K4s | 1.926 | 0.4% | 64.3% | 35.3% |
| K3s | 3.704 | 99.8% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| K2s | 1.548 | 99.8% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| AQo | 8.995 | 0.0% | 0.7% | 99.3% |
| KQo | 8.995 | 0.0% | 69.1% | 30.9% |
| 0.714 | 0.0% | 99.6% | 0.4% | |
| QJs | 2.149 | 0.0% | 92.8% | 7.2% |
| QTs | 2.313 | 0.0% | 94.6% | 5.4% |
| Q9s | 1.74 | 0.0% | 73.8% | 26.2% |
| Q8s | 1.999 | 0.0% | 99.8% | 0.2% |
| Q7s | 1.495 | 0.0% | 99.9% | 0.1% |
| Q6s | 1.086 | 0.0% | 99.9% | 0.1% |
| Q5s | 0.834 | 0.0% | 99.9% | 0.1% |
| Q4s | 0.085 | 0.0% | 84.6% | 15.4% |
| AJo | 4.525 | 99.0% | 0.1% | 0.8% |
| KJo | 9.067 | 0.3% | 75.7% | 24.0% |
| QJo | 6.914 | 0.0% | 73.3% | 26.7% |
| JJ | 2.024 | 34.8% | 32.4% | 32.9% |
| JTs | 2.026 | 0.0% | 91.8% | 8.2% |
| J9s | 2.168 | 7.9% | 76.5% | 15.6% |
| J8s | 1.462 | 14.9% | 3.9% | 81.2% |
| J7s | 3.739 | 99.8% | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| J6s | 2.204 | 99.8% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| J5s | 1.087 | 99.8% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| ATo | 7.111 | 99.7% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| KTo | 7.239 | 1.5% | 64.5% | 34.0% |
| QTo | 5.315 | 0.0% | 94.4% | 5.6% |
| JTo | 8.213 | 0.0% | 99.7% | 0.3% |
| TT | 2.26 | 90.0% | 1.7% | 8.3% |
| T9s | 0.514 | 0.2% | 99.7% | 0.1% |
| T8s | 2.091 | 0.6% | 82.5% | 17.0% |
| T7s | 2.148 | 99.8% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| A9o | 5.187 | 0.1% | 99.7% | 0.1% |
| K9o | 2.2 | 40.2% | 28.2% | 31.6% |
| Q9o | 6.976 | 0.0% | 37.3% | 62.7% |
| J9o | 1.86 | 27.7% | 20.9% | 51.4% |
| T9o | 0.07 | 1.6% | 97.9% | 0.4% |
| 99 | 1.249 | 0.0% | 71.5% | 28.5% |
| 98s | 0.136 | 0.1% | 99.9% | 0.1% |
| 97s | 0.03 | 0.0% | 99.9% | 0.0% |
| A8o | 5.946 | 99.8% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| K8o | 5.47 | 99.9% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Q8o | 0.255 | 0.0% | 99.8% | 0.2% |
| 88 | 0.001 | 77.4% | 0.1% | 22.5% |
| 87s | 1.226 | 99.6% | 0.0% | 0.3% |
| A7o | 6.215 | 99.3% | 0.0% | 0.6% |
| K7o | 0.001 | 99.9% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 77 | 0.001 | 10.0% | 0.2% | 89.8% |
| 76s | 0.283 | 95.8% | 0.0% | 4.2% |
| A6o | 6.905 | 99.6% | 0.0% | 0.4% |
| 66 | 0.002 | 20.0% | 0.2% | 79.9% |
| 65s | 0.001 | 95.1% | 0.0% | 4.9% |
| A5o | 8.564 | 96.3% | 0.1% | 3.7% |
| 55 | 0.003 | 17.6% | 0.1% | 82.3% |
| A4o | 3.682 | 0.1% | 87.9% | 11.9% |
| 44 | 2.998 | 0.0% | 94.2% | 5.8% |
| A3o | 11.034 | 96.6% | 0.1% | 3.3% |
| 33 | 0.001 | 98.3% | 0.1% | 1.6% |
| A2o | 4.792 | 95.1% | 0.1% | 4.8% |
What each action is worth with K♠Q♦
| Action | How often | Expected value |
|---|---|---|
| Fold | 0.00% | 0 bb |
| Call (9.5 bb) | 78.22% | 14.133 bb |
| Raise ¼ pot (to 15.5 bb) | 21.78% | 14.005 bb |
Ranges, pot and stacks
- The hand so far: 6-max cash, 40 big blinds · Button opens to 2.5 bb, big blind calls · Flop Q♠ 9♦ 4♥: big blind checks, button bets 4 bb, big blind raises to 9.5 bb into 5.5 bb · Button to act, 33.5 bb behind
- Pot at this decision, including the bets in front: 19 bb
- The button: 33.5 bb behind, 4 bb in front
- The big blind: 28 bb behind, 9.5 bb in front
| A | K | Q | J | T | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | AA 100 % | AKs 26 % | AQs 100 % | AJs 12 % | ATs 10 % | A9s 88 % | A8s 19 % | A7s 30 % | A6s 22 % | A5s 43 % | A4s 85 % | A3s 53 % | A2s 49 % |
| K | AKo 7 % | KK 100 % | KQs 100 % | KJs 86 % | KTs 85 % | K9s 52 % | K8s 72 % | K7s 66 % | K6s 75 % | K5s 80 % | K4s 64 % | K3s 93 % | K2s 39 % |
| Q | AQo 100 % | KQo 100 % | QQ 24 % | QJs 72 % | QTs 77 % | Q9s 87 % | Q8s 67 % | Q7s 50 % | Q6s 36 % | Q5s 28 % | Q4s 4 % | Q3s Not in this range here | Q2s Not in this range here |
| J | AJo 38 % | KJo 76 % | QJo 77 % | JJ 34 % | JTs 51 % | J9s 72 % | J8s 37 % | J7s 94 % | J6s 55 % | J5s 27 % | J4s Not in this range here | J3s Not in this range here | J2s Not in this range here |
| T | ATo 59 % | KTo 60 % | QTo 59 % | JTo 68 % | TT 38 % | T9s 17 % | T8s 52 % | T7s 54 % | T6s Not in this range here | 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 24 % | Q9o 100 % | J9o 21 % | T9o 1 % | 99 42 % | 98s 5 % | 97s 1 % | 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 50 % | K8o 46 % | Q8o 3 % | J8o Not in this range here | T8o Not in this range here | 98o Not in this range here | 88 <1 % | 87s 31 % | 86s Not in this range here | 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 52 % | K7o <1 % | 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 7 % | 75s Not in this range here | 74s Not in this range here | 73s Not in this range here | 72s Not in this range here |
| 6 | A6o 57 % | 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 <1 % | 65s <1 % | 64s Not in this range here | 63s Not in this range here | 62s Not in this range here |
| 5 | A5o 71 % | 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 <1 % | 54s Not in this range here | 53s Not in this range here | 52s Not in this range here |
| 4 | A4o 41 % | 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 | 44 100 % | 43s Not in this range here | 42s Not in this range here |
| 3 | A3o 92 % | 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 <1 % | 32s Not in this range here |
| 2 | A2o 40 % | 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 Not in this range here |
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 Not in this range here | AKs Not in this range here | AQs Not in this range here | AJs Not in this range here | ATs <1 % | A9s 5 % | A8s Not in this range here | A7s Not in this range here | A6s Not in this range here | A5s <1 % | A4s 12 % | A3s <1 % | A2s <1 % |
| K | AKo Not in this range here | KK Not in this range here | KQs Not in this range here | KJs 61 % | KTs <1 % | K9s <1 % | K8s <1 % | K7s <1 % | K6s <1 % | K5s <1 % | K4s 3 % | K3s Not in this range here | K2s <1 % |
| Q | AQo Not in this range here | KQo 56 % | QQ Not in this range here | QJs 63 % | QTs <1 % | Q9s 31 % | Q8s 16 % | Q7s <1 % | Q6s <1 % | Q5s <1 % | Q4s Not in this range here | Q3s <1 % | Q2s Not in this range here |
| J | AJo Not in this range here | KJo 32 % | QJo 24 % | JJ Not in this range here | JTs 1 % | J9s Not in this range here | J8s 1 % | J7s <1 % | J6s Not in this range here | J5s Not in this range here | J4s Not in this range here | J3s Not in this range here | J2s Not in this range here |
| T | ATo Not in this range here | KTo 21 % | QTo 11 % | JTo 18 % | TT Not in this range here | T9s Not in this range here | T8s 20 % | T7s <1 % | T6s Not in this range here | 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 <1 % | K9o Not in this range here | Q9o Not in this range here | J9o Not in this range here | T9o Not in this range here | 99 Not in this range here | 98s 15 % | 97s <1 % | 96s 6 % | 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 Not in this range here | 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 Not in this range here | 87s Not in this range here | 86s Not in this range here | 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 Not in this range here | 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 Not in this range here | 76s Not in this range here | 75s Not in this range here | 74s Not in this range here | 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 Not in this range here | 65s <1 % | 64s 4 % | 63s Not in this range here | 62s Not in this range here |
| 5 | A5o Not in this range here | 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 <1 % | 54s 7 % | 53s <1 % | 52s Not in this range here |
| 4 | A4o Not in this range here | 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 46 % | 43s 5 % | 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 Not in this range here | 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 <1 % |
Each cell shows the share of the class's possible combos in the range.