98s from CO, first in — fold, call or raise?
The answer
Raise
open-raise
The math: The Cutoff opens 98s. Suited connectors flop straights, flushes and barrels.
Why
Nine-eight suited already opens from MP in this chart and becomes even better in the Cutoff. It adds more fold equity, likely postflop position, and the same disguised straight-and-flush potential. Raise.
The spot
- Your seat
- CO
- Stakes and stacks
- $1 / $2 · 100bb
- Your hand
- 9♥ 8♥
- Board
- Preflop — no board yet
- Pot
- POT · $3
- Action on you
- Folds to you
Every option
Foldgive up the hand
Why not: 98s is inside the Cutoff opening range — folding a hand that flops big draws in position is too tight.
Calllimp in
Why not: Limping surrenders initiative and the chance to steal; raise to build a pot you’ll play in position.
Raiseopen-raiseCorrect
2bb · $4 · 2.5bb · $5 · 3bb · $6
The idea behind it
Position is the currency speculative hands trade in. A connector that already opens from MP becomes more profitable as fewer players remain behind.
Concept: Suited connectors
Terms in this spot
Play it instead of reading it
The trainer deals this hand with hints, grading and spaced repetition — and randomized variations of it once you have seen it.