How deep can the small blind shove K2s?
K2s shoves every time as the small blind up to 19bb. At 19bb its shove is worth -0.4710 big blinds against -0.5000 for folding. Past 19bb the chart folds it.
| Stack | Shove frequency | Shove EV | Fold EV | Equity when called |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1bb | 100% | +0.064 | -0.500 | 53.2% |
| 2bb | 100% | +0.128 | -0.500 | 53.2% |
| 3bb | 100% | +0.182 | -0.500 | 52.0% |
| 4bb | 100% | +0.232 | -0.500 | 49.6% |
| 5bb | 100% | +0.230 | -0.500 | 47.5% |
| 6bb | 100% | +0.173 | -0.500 | 45.5% |
| 7bb | 100% | +0.108 | -0.500 | 43.8% |
| 8bb | 100% | +0.025 | -0.500 | 42.3% |
| 9bb | 100% | -0.043 | -0.500 | 41.0% |
| 10bb | 100% | -0.124 | -0.500 | 39.6% |
| 11bb | 100% | -0.181 | -0.500 | 38.9% |
| 12bb | 100% | -0.255 | -0.500 | 38.0% |
| 13bb | 100% | -0.307 | -0.500 | 37.4% |
| 14bb | 100% | -0.356 | -0.500 | 36.9% |
| 15bb | 100% | -0.420 | -0.500 | 36.6% |
| 16bb | 100% | -0.438 | -0.500 | 36.2% |
| 17bb | 100% | -0.439 | -0.500 | 35.9% |
| 18bb | 100% | -0.455 | -0.500 | 35.9% |
| 19bb | 100% | -0.471 | -0.500 | 35.6% |
| 20bb | 0% | -0.558 | -0.500 | 34.6% |
When should the big blind call with K2s?
K2s calls every time as the big blind up to 10.5bb. At 10.5bb its call is worth -0.9127 big blinds against -1.0000 for folding. At 10.5bb a call breaks even at 45.2% equity, because the big blind has already posted a full blind that folding gives up. Past 10.5bb the chart folds it.
| Stack | Call frequency | Call EV | Fold EV | Equity vs shoves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1bb | 100% | +0.064 | -1.000 | 53.2% |
| 2bb | 100% | +0.069 | -1.000 | 51.7% |
| 3bb | 100% | +0.016 | -1.000 | 50.3% |
| 4bb | 100% | -0.034 | -1.000 | 49.6% |
| 5bb | 100% | -0.094 | -1.000 | 49.1% |
| 6bb | 100% | -0.182 | -1.000 | 48.5% |
| 7bb | 100% | -0.275 | -1.000 | 48.0% |
| 8bb | 100% | -0.484 | -1.000 | 47.0% |
| 9bb | 100% | -0.642 | -1.000 | 46.4% |
| 10bb | 100% | -0.795 | -1.000 | 46.0% |
| 11bb | 0% | -1.079 | -1.000 | 45.1% |
| 12bb | 0% | -1.216 | -1.000 | 44.9% |
| 13bb | 0% | -1.400 | -1.000 | 44.6% |
| 14bb | 0% | -1.736 | -1.000 | 43.8% |
| 15bb | 0% | -2.051 | -1.000 | 43.2% |
| 16bb | 0% | -2.184 | -1.000 | 43.2% |
| 17bb | 0% | -2.419 | -1.000 | 42.9% |
| 18bb | 0% | -2.640 | -1.000 | 42.7% |
| 19bb | 0% | -2.831 | -1.000 | 42.5% |
| 20bb | 0% | -3.015 | -1.000 | 42.5% |
What makes K2s different from similar hands?
K2s is 4 combos out of the 1,326 two-card hands and ranks number 71 of the 169 starting-hand classes by equity against a random hand. From the small blind, K2s shoves cleanly 7.5bb deeper than K2o (19bb against 11.5bb). From the big blind, K2s calls cleanly 2.5bb deeper than K2o (10.5bb against 8bb). Suited hands win more often because of flushes, which is why the suited version is the more playable of the pair.
Where can I check other hands like K2s?
The stack pages show the full shove and call charts at each depth, and the hands closest to K2s in strength, along with K2o, have pages of their own. The combos page counts the specific hands that make up K2s and how card removal changes them.
How were the numbers for K2s computed?
Both players hold one of the 169 starting-hand classes, weighted by the pairs of specific hands that share no card, so blockers count. Blinds are 0.5 and 1 with no ante and equal stacks. Each pair of classes is scored with its exact equity over every five-card board, and the solver repeats best responses against the other side's running average until the hands on the edge are made exactly indifferent.
Source: GeorgeLiPoker's own heads-up solver, run on its exact preflop equity table.
Questions
- Is K2s a shove at 10bb heads-up?
- Yes. At 10bb the small blind shoves K2s: shoving is worth -0.124 big blinds and folding -0.500.
- Should the big blind call a shove with K2s at 15bb?
- No. At 15bb calling with K2s is worth -2.051 big blinds against -1.000 for folding, so the chart folds.
- Why does K2s change from a shove to a fold as stacks grow?
- Deeper stacks put more chips at risk for the same blinds, and the big blind can afford to call a smaller share of hands. K2s shoves every time only up to 19bb.