98s from MP, first in — fold, call or raise?
The answer
Raise
open-raise
The math: The MP chart opens suited connectors down to 65s. 98s is comfortably above that floor.
Why
Nine-eight suited flops strong draws and disguised made hands, and only four players remain. It will not win often by raw high card, but its fold equity, connectivity and suitedness combine into a profitable first-in raise.
The spot
- Your seat
- MP
- 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: Nine-eight suited is comfortably inside this MP range. Folding gives up a playable hand with straight and flush potential.
Calllimp in
Why not: Limping gives up the initiative and invites a crowd. This chart opens 98s with a raise.
Raiseopen-raiseCorrect
2bb · $4 · 2.5bb · $5 · 3bb · $6
The idea behind it
Suited connectors benefit from both fold equity before the flop and strong draw potential after it. At six-max, middle position is late enough to open a selective run of them.
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.