Quick answer
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AQs by the numbers
- vs 1 random hand
- 66.4%
- all-in equity
- vs 5 random hands
- 29.3%
- full 6-max table
- Flop a pair or better
- 32.4%
- pairing a hole card
- Flop a flush draw
- 10.9%
- flush 0.84%
How to play AQs by position
6-max cash game, around 100 big blinds deep.
- Early position (UTG)
- Open-raise. It is a strong hand from every 6-max seat.
- Middle position (hijack)
- Open-raise. Facing an open, 3-bet or call depending on the opener.
- Late position (cutoff, button)
- Open-raise or 3-bet against earlier opens.
- Blinds
- Raise when folded to; 3-bet against late-position opens and call or 3-bet against early ones.
- Facing a raise
- 3-bet most opens, or call against very tight early raisers. Facing a 4-bet at 100bb, folding is often correct against tight players, while continuing is fine against loose ones.
After the flop
- Suited hands flop a flush draw about 10.9% of the time, adding equity when you miss.
- Top pair with a queen kicker is good but not unbeatable; keep pots controlled on wet boards.
- On boards like K♠ J♦ 4♣ you have a gutshot to the nut straight plus two overcards, a good spot to keep betting.
AQs against common hands
Ace-queen suited wins only 31.9% against KK and 28.1% against AKo, with ties 4.4% of the time, showing how badly domination hurts it. Against JTs it wins 61.2%.
| Against | AQs wins | Tie | AQs loses |
|---|---|---|---|
| K-K | 31.9% | 0.4% | 67.7% |
| A-K offsuit | 28.1% | 4.4% | 67.5% |
| J-10 suited | 61.2% | 0.5% | 38.3% |
All-in before the flop, exact results from every possible board. Suits as dealt in our example; figures shift slightly with other suit combinations.
What AQs makes by the river
If you see all five board cards, your best five-card hand ends up as each of these this often. Exact figures from every possible board.
- Straight flush0.06%
- Four of a kind0.1%
- Full house2.2%
- Flush6.5%
- Straight3.4%
- Three of a kind4.3%
- Two pair22.1%
- One pair43.1%
- High card18.0%
Common mistakes with AQs
- Calling 4-bets and getting it in against aces, kings or ace-king.
- Overvaluing top pair with a queen kicker in a large pot.
- Flat-calling too often instead of 3-betting.
Where AQs sits in the chart
Suited hands above the diagonal, offsuit below, pairs on it. Number = equity against one random hand. A white dot means the hand has a full guide.
Ace-queen suited FAQ
Is AQs better than JJ?
It depends on the situation. Jacks are a slight favourite all-in, but ace-queen suited plays better after the flop in many spots.
Should I call a 4-bet with AQs?
Against tight players, usually not. Against loose players who 4-bet with many hands, calling or getting all-in can be fine.
How do I play AQs with a short stack in a tournament?
With 15bb or less, it is a clear push from every position and usually a call against late-position shoves.