Folding a suited queen at 7bb is far too tight. Suited cards add flush equity for the times you are called, and at this depth the blinds are worth stealing with a wide range.

Q9s from SB with 7bb — push or fold?

Q: Q9s from SB with 7bb — push or fold?

Push. Seven big blinds is still firmly push-or-fold, and a suited queen is well inside a short-stack jamming range. When everyone folds you pick up the blinds for free; when you are called, being suited leaves you a flush draw to fall back on, and the queen is often a live overcard. Folding this only bleeds a short stack. Push.

The answer

Push

all-in

The math: 7bb · suited broadway is a standard jam. Q♠ 9♠ shoves and steals the blinds.

Why

Seven big blinds is still firmly push-or-fold, and a suited queen is well inside a short-stack jamming range. When everyone folds you pick up the blinds for free; when you are called, being suited leaves you a flush draw to fall back on, and the queen is often a live overcard. Folding this only bleeds a short stack. Push.

The spot

POT · 1,500

preflop

Folded to you

Q♠

9♠

500 / 1,000 · 7bb

Your seat: SB
Stakes and stacks: 500 / 1,000 · 7bb
Your hand: Q♠ 9♠
Board: Preflop — no board yet
Pot: POT · 1,500
Action on you: Folded to you

Every option

Foldwait for better
Why not: Folding a suited queen at 7bb is far too tight. Suited cards add flush equity for the times you are called, and at this depth the blinds are worth stealing with a wide range.
Pushall-inCorrect

The idea behind it

Suitedness matters most when you are called: a flush draw turns a marginal jam into a hand with real equity. Short-stacked, suited broadway cards are automatic steals from the blinds.

Concept: Blind steals

See the glossary Read the methodology

Terms in this spot

Blinds Open-raise

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.