98s (Nine-Eight suited) odds & win probability
98s wins 50.9% of the time against a random hand and ranks 83 of 169 starting hands. It is a suited hand with 4 combinations, 0.3% of all deals, and it is a raise from under the gun onward in a 6-max game.
The numbers
| Against | Equity |
|---|---|
| One random hand | 50.9% |
| 2 random hands | 36.2% |
| 4 random hands | 23.9% |
| 6 random hands | 18.0% |
| 8 random hands | 14.5% |
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Wins outright | 49.0% |
| Splits the pot | 3.9% |
| Loses | 47.2% |
| Combinations | 4 |
| Share of all deals | 0.30% |
| Playability rank | 83 of 169 |
| Percentile | 51.5 |
Where 98s sits in each opening range
Six-max, 100 big blinds. The gold outline marks 98s; red is the raising range.
- UTGRaise
Under the gun opening range with 98s highlighted - HJRaise
Hijack opening range with 98s highlighted - CORaise
Cutoff opening range with 98s highlighted - BTNRaise
Button opening range with 98s highlighted - SBRaise
Small blind opening range with 98s highlighted
How to play 98s
Playing it before the flop
Open from under the gun onward, in position. 98s only wins 50.9% against a random hand, near the bottom of the playable range, yet it is one of the most profitable hands to play, because it is either clearly good or clearly gone by the turn.
Facing a 3-bet
Call in position with stacks behind, fold out of it. Suited connectors need room to win a big pot when they hit, and a 3-bet pot at shallow depth simply does not have it. Depth is the whole question here, not the hand.
After the flop
98s flops a pair, a draw or nothing, and the difference between winning and losing with it is how quickly you let go of the third. When it does connect it is well hidden, a straight from connected cards is the hardest hand at the table to see coming.
98s questions
How often does 98s win?
98s wins 50.9% of the time against a single random hand, 49.0% outright, with a 3.9% chance of splitting the pot. That makes it the 83rd strongest of the 169 starting hands.
Should I raise with 98s?
Yes, from under the gun onward in a six-handed game. Earlier than that there are too many players still to act for the hand to be profitable as an open.
How many combinations of 98s are there?
There are 4 combinations of Nine-Eight suited, which is 0.3% of the 1,326 possible starting hands. Every suited hand has four, one per suit.
How does 98s hold up against several opponents?
Against eight opponents its equity falls to 14.5%. Every extra player reduces the share, but a hand that makes the nuts loses less of it than a hand that only makes a pair.
Neighbouring hands
- Next stepThe UTG opening range in full98s is one cell of it. The chart shows the other 168 decisions from the same seat, which is what you actually need at the table.
- 44, Pocket fours57.1% · rank 48
- T9s, Ten-Nine suited54.1% · rank 65
- 33, Pocket threes53.8% · rank 66
- 22, Pocket twos50.3% · rank 88
- 87s, Eight-Seven suited48.0% · rank 100
- 76s, Seven-Six suited45.4% · rank 115
- 65s, Six-Five suited43.2% · rank 128
- 54s, Five-Four suited41.4% · rank 137
Hear the day the 98s drills open
You read the whole page, which is more than most. The course and the trainer that deals 98s from every seat open without a card while Learn GTO is in early access, and this list hears first when that changes.
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