A♣Q♣ CO vs BB, turn on J♣ 8♦ 5♠ Q♠, 65 bb
The spot
- You: CO
- Opponent: BB
- Your hand: A♣Q♣
- Board: J♣ 8♦ 5♠ Q♠
- Effective stack: 65 bb
- Pot: 11.5 bb
Hero arrives on turn with equity and blocker leverage.
What action realizes the most EV in solver baseline?
See the answer
Best play: Raise
Why
The Q♠ turn is a top-of-range card that smashes the in-position caller: it gives you top pair while BB, who is mostly capped here, rarely has Qx or sets in a checked-flop line. Your A♣Q♣ is now top pair top kicker (a queen with the ace kicker) plus a backdoor nut-flush blocker. Facing BB's turn bet in position, raising applies maximum pressure for thin value and protection: you fold out worse pairs and draws, get called by weaker Qx and Jx, and deny equity to the many gutshots and overcards this card brings in.
Key idea
When the turn pairs your top card and you're in position facing a bet, raise top-pair-top-kicker for value and protection.
Common mistake
Just calling with TPTK lets the many draws on this board peel cheaply and fails to charge worse made hands.