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QJo from CO, first in — fold, call or raise?

The answer

Raise

open-raise

The math: In the Cutoff, offsuit broadways like QJo are a standard open.

Why

Queen-jack offsuit makes strong top pairs and flops plenty of straight draws. It’s too weak to open under the gun, but from the Cutoff — with only three players left to act — it’s a comfortable raise.

The spot

POT · $3
preflop
Folds to you
Q
J
CO
$1 / $2 · 100bb
Your seat
CO
Stakes and stacks
$1 / $2 · 100bb
Your hand
Q♠ J♦
Board
Preflop — no board yet
Pot
POT · $3
Action on you
Folds to you

Every option

  • Foldgive up the hand

    Why not: QJo is a solid late-position hand — folding it in the Cutoff is too tight.

  • Calllimp in

    Why not: Limping surrenders initiative; raise to take the lead with a hand that flops strong pairs and straights.

  • Raiseopen-raiseCorrect

    2bb · $4 · 2.5bb · $5 · 3bb · $6

The idea behind it

Offsuit broadways climb into the range as position improves: folds up front, opens in the Cutoff and Button.

Concept: Broadway cards

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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