poker.yoga

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

The answer

Raise

open-raise

The math: The six-max UTG chart opens KTs+. King-ten suited is the boundary hand.

Why

KTs combines a useful king, flush potential and broadway straight potential. It can still make a dominated top pair, so do not overplay it after resistance, but with only five opponents in the game it has enough playability to open first in.

The spot

POT · $3
preflop
You’re first to act
K
T
UTG
$1 / $2 · 100bb
Your seat
UTG
Stakes and stacks
$1 / $2 · 100bb
Your hand
K♥ T♥
Board
Preflop — no board yet
Pot
POT · $3
Action on you
You’re first to act

Every option

  • Foldgive up the hand

    Why not: KTs is the lowest suited king in this six-max UTG range. Folding it ignores the flush and straight equity that lets the boundary hand open profitably.

  • Calllimp in

    Why not: Limping gives away initiative and invites a multiway pot. KTs is strong enough to open, so raise rather than tiptoe in.

  • Raiseopen-raiseCorrect

    2bb · $4 · 2.5bb · $5 · 3bb · $6

The idea behind it

Suitedness matters most when it comes with connected high cards. KTs reaches this chart’s six-max UTG floor; weaker suited kings wait for later seats.

Concept: Suited broadway floor

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.

More spots in this topic

All 179 quiz spots