22 vs QJ: Preflop Equity & Odds
| Hand | Win | Tie | Equity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 (Pocket Deuces) | 48.6% | 1.2% | 49.2% |
| QJ (Queen-Jack) | 50.2% | 1.2% | 50.8% |
Suited vs offsuit: QJ
| Matchup | Win | Tie | Equity |
|---|---|---|---|
| QJs | 52.0% | 1.2% | 52.5% |
| QJo | 49.6% | 1.2% | 50.2% |
How 22 vs QJ unfolds by street
Queen-Jack (QJ) is still ahead on 40% of flops against 22, and the lead survives to the turn on 42%. 22 takes the lead on the other 60% of flops. These figures come from full board enumeration, not a simulation.
| Street | QJ still ahead | 22 flipped the lead |
|---|---|---|
| Flop | 40% | 60% |
| Turn | 42% | 58% |
When a pair meets two bigger cards you get a flip, and 22 vs QJ is exactly that: QJ wins 50.2%, 22 wins 48.6%, and 1.2% of boards chop. The overcards lean on six live outs — either Queen or Jack pairs to take the lead — which is why the unpaired side converts about 50.2%, the math behind every "I have to gamble" all-in in a tournament.
Translate that into a decision and it's simple pot-odds math: counting split pots as half, QJ carries 50.8% equity and 22 49.2%. Against a pot-sized shove you need about 33% to call and about 25% versus a half-pot bet — so 22 is comfortably priced in to get it all-in here.
Because 22 vs QJ is so close, the skill is in avoiding the flip when you don't need it and welcoming it when you do — short-stacked shove/call ranges, bubble pressure, or a juicy pot with antes. Two near-equal hands mean position and initiative postflop matter more than the half-point equity gap.
22 vs QJ FAQ
Who wins 22 vs QJ preflop?
It is close to a coin flip: QJ (Queen-Jack) has the slight edge, winning 50.2% of all runouts to 22's 48.6%. The remaining 1.2% are split pots. Counting splits as half, 22's preflop equity is 49.2%.
How often does 22 beat QJ?
22 wins 48.6% of the time all-in preflop against QJ — essentially a coin flip, so it is close to even money.
Should you call all-in with 22 against QJ?
22 vs QJ is close to a coin flip (48.6% vs 50.2%), so calling off is correct whenever the pot is laying you a price near even money or you have a tournament reason to gamble. Deep-stacked with no dead money, it's a thinner spot — the edge is too small to commit a big stack without fold equity.
Does QJ hold up against 22 after the flop?
QJ is still ahead on 40% of flops and stays ahead through the turn on 42% of boards; 22 takes the lead on the other 60% of flops. These are exact figures from full board enumeration.
Run any matchup in the free equity calculator · JJ VS KQ · TT VS AQ · TT VS AJ · TT VS KQ · TT VS KJ · TT VS QJ