Starting hand · Playable

King-jack suited (KJs)

Quick answer

King-jack suited is a playable hand with about 62.5% equity against one random hand. Open it from most seats and play it well in position, but avoid big pots with one pair against tight players holding better kings or aces.

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KJs by the numbers

vs 1 random hand: 62.5%; all-in equity
vs 5 random hands: 26.8%; full 6-max table
Flop a pair or better: 32.4%; pairing a hole card
Flop a flush draw: 10.9%; flush 0.83%

How to play KJs by position

6-max cash game, around 100 big blinds deep.

Early position (UTG): Open-raise in 6-max. Be ready to fold to a 3-bet.
Middle position (hijack): Open-raise. Facing an open, call in position or fold.
Late position (cutoff, button): Open-raise, and call or 3-bet against opens.
Blinds: Raise when folded to; call against late opens.
Facing a raise: Call in position against single opens. Fold to most 3-bets and all 4-bets.

After the flop

Suited hands flop a flush draw about 10.9% of the time, giving extra ways to win.
King-jack makes straights with Q-T or T-9, giving more draws.
Top pair with a jack kicker can be dominated; play smaller pots.

KJs against common hands

King-jack suited wins 48.7% against 77 and 41.1% against AQo. Against KQo it wins only 27.9%, with ties 5.3% of the time, because of the shared king.

Against	KJs wins	Tie	KJs loses
7-7	48.7%	0.4%	50.9%
A-Q offsuit	41.1%	0.4%	58.5%
K-Q offsuit	27.9%	5.3%	66.8%

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 KJs 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 flush0.1%
Four of a kind0.1%
Full house2.2%
Flush6.5%
Straight5.0%
Three of a kind4.3%
Two pair22.0%
One pair42.3%
High card17.4%

Common mistakes with KJs

Calling 3-bets out of position.
Stacking off with top pair.
Treating it as a premium hand.

Where KJs sits in the chart

AA85%AKs67%AQs66%AJs65%ATs65%A9s63%A8s62%A7s61%A6s60%A5s60%A4s59%A3s58%A2s57%AKo65%KK83%KQs63%KJs63%KTs62%K9s60%K8s59%K7s57%K6s57%K5s56%K4s55%K3s54%K2s53%AQo65%KQo62%QQ80%QJs60%QTs59%Q9s58%Q8s56%Q7s54%Q6s54%Q5s53%Q4s52%Q3s51%Q2s50%AJo64%KJo60%QJo58%JJ78%JTs58%J9s56%J8s54%J7s52%J6s51%J5s50%J4s49%J3s48%J2s47%ATo63%KTo60%QTo57%JTo55%TT75%T9s54%T8s52%T7s51%T6s49%T5s47%T4s47%T3s46%T2s45%A9o61%K9o58%Q9o55%J9o53%T9o52%9972%98s51%97s49%96s48%95s46%94s44%93s43%92s42%A8o60%K8o56%Q8o54%J8o51%T8o50%98o48%8869%87s48%86s46%85s45%84s43%83s41%82s40%A7o59%K7o55%Q7o52%J7o50%T7o48%97o46%87o45%7766%76s45%75s44%74s42%73s40%72s38%A6o58%K6o54%Q6o51%J6o48%T6o46%96o45%86o43%76o42%6663%65s43%64s41%63s40%62s38%A5o58%K5o53%Q5o50%J5o47%T5o44%95o43%85o41%75o41%65o40%5561%54s41%53s40%52s38%A4o57%K4o52%Q4o49%J4o46%T4o43%94o41%84o39%74o39%64o38%54o38%4457%43s39%42s37%A3o56%K3o52%Q3o48%J3o45%T3o43%93o40%83o38%73o37%63o36%53o36%43o35%3354%32s36%A2o55%K2o51%Q2o47%J2o44%T2o42%92o39%82o37%72o35%62o34%52o34%42o33%32o32%2250%

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.

King-jack suited FAQ

Is KJs a good hand?

Yes, in position against wide ranges. It is weaker against tight raisers.

Should I 3-bet KJs?

Sometimes, against wide openers in late position. Calling is often better against tighter opens.

How do I play KJs with a short stack in a tournament?

With 15bb or less, push from late position and the blinds when folded to you.