A♥Q♣ SB vs BTN, preflop, 60 bb
The spot
- You: SB
- Opponent: BTN
- Your hand: A♥Q♣
- Board: preflop, no board yet
- Effective stack: 60 bb
- Pot: 3 bb
Hero chooses between call, raise, and controlled passivity.
What action keeps the highest practical EV?
See the answer
Best play: Raise
Why
AQo in the SB facing a BTN steal: the SB plays a 3‑bet-or-fold game out of position, and AQo is far too strong to fold. You raise (3‑bet) for value, dominating the BTN's wide A-x and K‑Q opens while the A-blocker cuts their AA/AK/AQ continues. Flat-calling and checking are not real options here -- the SB cannot check preflop, and AQo wants to take the betting lead and deny the BTN's positional realization.
Key idea
From the SB you never get a free flop -- it is raise or fold. With a dominating offsuit broadway like AQo, choose raise: 3‑bet for value and seize the initiative against the BTN's wide stealing range.
Common mistake
Treating check as a valid SB option. The SB has no check preflop; defaulting to a passive flat with AQo also bleeds EV by surrendering the initiative and letting the BTN realize position.