A♥Q♣ CO vs BTN, flop on K♠ J♠ 7♥, 65 bb
The spot
- You: CO
- Opponent: BTN
- Your hand: A♥Q♣
- Board: K♠ J♠ 7♥
- Effective stack: 65 bb
- Pot: 10.5 bb
6‑max reg battle node with meaningful frequency tradeoffs.
Best core-reg decision?
See the answer
Best play: Raise
Why
K♠J♠7♥ favors the BTN's in-position range a touch, but as the CO out of position you hold A♥Q♣: a gutshot to the nut straight (any T makes Broadway) plus two overcards in ace-high and a queen. That is a check‑raise semi-bluff with real equity — you can rep the strong Kx/sets in your range, fold out the BTN's weak hands and floats now, and still have outs to the nuts when called, which beats meekly check-calling a hand that flops nothing made.
Key idea
A gutshot to the nuts plus overcards is enough equity to check‑raise as a semi-bluff from out of position, rather than passively giving up.
Common mistake
Treating ace-high with only a gutshot as a pure check-fold or check-call, missing the fold equity a check‑raise generates out of position.