Folding top pair top kicker to a polarized range would be a huge over-fold — you beat every bluff and even block the button's value kings. This is a snap-call.

KJs on K♠ 8♥ 3♣ 2♦ 7♠ facing a bet — call or fold?

Q: KJs on K♠ 8♥ 3♣ 2♦ 7♠ facing a bet — call or fold?

Call. This is an even more comfortable version of the same bluff-catch. Top pair top kicker beats all of the button's busted draws and missed ace-highs, losing only to a narrow set of better hands — and your own king removes a chunk of the KQ, KJ and better-king value they could hold. Folding a hand this strong to a polarized range would be far too tight; you'd be handing them every bluff. Call and let them keep firing into you. The solver calls essentially always.

The answer

Call

an easy bluff-catch

The math: Top pair with a good kicker, and you hold a king — you block some of the button's value kings while still beating every bluff. An easy call.

Why

This is an even more comfortable version of the same bluff-catch. Top pair top kicker beats all of the button's busted draws and missed ace-highs, losing only to a narrow set of better hands — and your own king removes a chunk of the KQ, KJ and better-king value they could hold. Folding a hand this strong to a polarized range would be far too tight; you'd be handing them every bluff. Call and let them keep firing into you. The solver calls essentially always.

The spot

Villain · BTN

bets $30

POT · $40

K♠

8♥

3♣

2♦

7♠

K♣

J♣

$1 / $2 · 100bb

Your seat: BB
Stakes and stacks: $1 / $2 · 100bb
Your hand: K♣ J♣
Board: K♠ 8♥ 3♣ 2♦ 7♠
Pot: POT · $40
Action on you: BTN bets $30

Every option

Foldgive it up
Why not: Folding top pair top kicker to a polarized range would be a huge over-fold — you beat every bluff and even block the button's value kings. This is a snap-call.
Callan easy bluff-catchCorrect

The idea behind it

The strength of a bluff-catcher — and the cards it removes from villain's value — decide how comfortable the call is. Top pair top kicker both beats the bluffs and blocks value, so it's a clear call against a river bet.

Concept: Strong bluff-catcher

See the glossary: Check-raise Read the methodology

Terms in this spot

Showdown Bluff

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.