Quick answer
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KQs by the numbers
- vs 1 random hand
- 63.3%
- all-in equity
- vs 5 random hands
- 28.3%
- 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 KQs by position
6-max cash game, around 100 big blinds deep.
- Early position (UTG)
- Open-raise. It is a standard open from every 6-max seat.
- Middle position (hijack)
- Open-raise. Facing an open, calling in position or 3-betting are both fine.
- Late position (cutoff, button)
- Open-raise, or 3-bet against wide opens.
- Blinds
- Raise when folded to; call or 3-bet against late opens.
- Facing a raise
- Call in position or 3-bet against wide openers. Facing a 4-bet, fold.
After the flop
- Suited hands flop a flush draw about 10.9% of the time, adding equity when you miss.
- Top pair with king-queen is good but not unbeatable; aces can dominate it.
- King-queen makes many straights with J-T, giving extra draws.
KQs against common hands
King-queen suited wins 51% against 22, a coin flip, but only 17.5% against AA. Against AKo it wins 29.6%, because the ace-king dominates the king.
| Against | KQs wins | Tie | KQs loses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-2 | 51% | 0.9% | 48.1% |
| A-A | 17.5% | 0.4% | 82.1% |
| A-K offsuit | 29.6% | 1.1% | 69.3% |
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 KQs 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%
- Straight4.7%
- Three of a kind4.3%
- Two pair22.0%
- One pair42.5%
- High card17.6%
Common mistakes with KQs
- Calling 4-bets.
- Stacking off with top pair against a tight player.
- Playing it too passively in position.
Where KQs 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.
King-queen suited FAQ
Is KQs better than AJo?
Their all-in equity is very similar, but king-queen suited usually plays better after the flop because it makes more straights and flushes and is dominated less often.
Should I 3-bet KQs?
Against wide late-position openers, yes. Against tight early opens, calling is often better.
How do I play KQs with a short stack in a tournament?
With 15bb or less, push from most positions when folded to you.