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KQo from UTG, first in — fold, call or raise?

The answer

Raise

open-raise

The math: KQo is the only offsuit king in this UTG chart, so it opens while KJo folds.

Why

King-queen offsuit makes strong top pairs and broadway draws. This range includes it as the lone offsuit king, while KJo remains just outside the simplified boundary. Raise KQo first in.

The spot

POT · $3
preflop
You’re first to act
K
Q
UTG
$1 / $2 · 100bb
Your seat
UTG
Stakes and stacks
$1 / $2 · 100bb
Your hand
K♠ Q♥
Board
Preflop — no board yet
Pot
POT · $3
Action on you
You’re first to act

Every option

  • Foldgive up the hand

    Why not: KQo is the one non-ace offsuit broadway strong enough to open under the gun — folding is too tight.

  • Calllimp in

    Why not: Limping surrenders the initiative a raise wins and invites a crowd against a hand that wants to play heads-up.

  • Raiseopen-raiseCorrect

    2bb · $4 · 2.5bb · $5 · 3bb · $6

The idea behind it

Range boundaries differ by hand family. This UTG chart opens ATo+ among offsuit aces, but only KQo among offsuit kings.

Concept: Range edges

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.

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