K♠J♠ CO vs BTN, preflop, 85 bb
The spot
- You: CO
- Opponent: BTN
- Your hand: K♠J♠
- Board: preflop, no board yet
- Effective stack: 85 bb
- Pot: 6.5 bb
Villain opens and action is on hero preflop.
Which action keeps the best EV baseline?
See the answer
Best play: Call
Why
Villain opens from the BTN and hero holds KJs in the CO, so this is a facing-an-open decision (3‑bet, flat, or fold). Against a wide BTN steal, KJs is strong enough to continue and flatting is a sound choice: it keeps the BTN range wide, realizes equity well with a suited broadway, and avoids being 3‑bet off a high-equity hand. It is also a fine 3‑bet for value/playability, so call is a reasonable, defensible mix.
Key idea
Versus a wide BTN open, strong suited broadways like KJs can be either 3‑bet or flatted; flatting traps the BTN wide range and realizes equity well, while 3-betting takes initiative.
Common mistake
Folding KJs to a BTN steal as if facing an early-position raise; against the BTN wide range it is far too strong to muck and overfolding hands the button easy steals.