AKs on Q♠ 8♦ 3♠ facing a bet — fold, call or raise?
The answer
Call
call $5
The math: 9 spades → ≈18% on the next card; a quarter-pot bet costs ~17%, before counting possible ace or king pair-outs.
Why
Nine spades make the nut flush, giving about 18% next-card equity against a ~17% price. Possible ace or king pair-outs add value, so the direct call is comfortably justified. This call buys only the next card: use outs × 2 against this price. Use × 4 only when the call closes the action for both cards; otherwise realistic implied odds must cover any gap.
The spot
- Your seat
- BTN
- Stakes and stacks
- $1 / $2 · 100bb
- Your hand
- A♠ K♠
- Board
- Q♠ 8♦ 3♠
- Pot
- POT · $20
- Action on you
- BB bets $5
Every option
Foldfold the draw
Why not: Nine spades give about 18% on the next card, already above the ~17% price; ace and king pair-outs add further value.
Callcall $5Correct
RaiseSemi-bluff with the draw
3x · $15 · all-in
Why not: Raising is fine too as a semi-bluff, but calling is the simplest profitable line here: the small bet gives you a great price, so just call and realise your equity cheaply.
The idea behind it
A normal call buys one card at a time: compare outs × 2 with the price. Use × 4 only when calling guarantees both remaining cards.
Concept: Nut flush draw
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.