A♣5♣ SB vs BTN, preflop, 60 bb
The spot
- You: SB
- Opponent: BTN
- Your hand: A♣5♣
- Board: preflop, no board yet
- Effective stack: 60 bb
- Pot: 9 bb
6‑max reg battle node with meaningful frequency tradeoffs.
Best core-reg decision?
See the answer
Best play: Raise
Why
Hero is SB with A5s versus a BTN steal, and the SB has no free check preflop, so the honest options are 3‑bet, complete, or fold. A5s is the textbook blocker 3‑bet bluff: the ace blocks AA and AKs while the wheel suitedness gives nut-flush and 5-high straight backup when called. Out of position the SB prefers a 3‑bet-or-fold approach, so the correct line is to raise.
Key idea
The SB cannot check preflop — it has already posted half a blind, so its choices are complete, raise, or fold. With strong blocker hands like A5s the SB plays 3‑bet-or-fold out of position, choosing the raise to fold out marginal hands and keep the lead.
Common mistake
Treating the SB like the BB and checking — that option does not exist for the SB preflop. Flatting A5s out of position also forfeits the blocker-driven fold equity that makes this hand a raise.