88 vs QJ: Odds & Interactive Calculator
| Hand | Win | Tie | Equity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88 (Pocket Eights) | 52.7% | 0.4% | 52.9% |
| QJ (Queen-Jack) | 46.9% | 0.4% | 47.1% |
Suited vs offsuit: QJ
| Matchup | Win | Tie | Equity |
|---|---|---|---|
| QJs | 48.8% | 0.4% | 49.1% |
| QJo | 46.3% | 0.4% | 46.5% |
How 88 vs QJ unfolds by street
Pocket Eights (88) is still ahead on 64% of flops against QJ, and the lead survives to the turn on 60%. QJ takes the lead on the other 36% of flops. These figures come from full board enumeration, not a simulation.
| Street | 88 still ahead | QJ flipped the lead |
|---|---|---|
| Flop | 64% | 36% |
| Turn | 60% | 40% |
88 vs QJ is the classic preflop race — a pocket pair against two overcards (connected overcards). The pair noses ahead: 88 wins 52.7%, QJ wins 46.9%, and 0.4% of boards chop. The unpaired hand has six outs twice over (any Queen or Jack), and with its straight gappers live too the whole thing sits within a few points of a coin flip.
Translate that into a decision and it's simple pot-odds math: counting split pots as half, 88 carries 52.9% equity and QJ 47.1%. Against a pot-sized shove you need about 33% to call and about 25% versus a half-pot bet — so QJ is comfortably priced in to get it all-in here.
How you play 88 vs QJ depends on which side you hold. With 88 you're not crushing, so keep the pot controllable and take the 52.7% edge to showdown when you can; with QJ, your equity is enough to continue with initiative but thin enough that bloating the pot out of position is a trap.
88 vs QJ FAQ
Who wins 88 vs QJ preflop?
88 (Pocket Eights) is the favorite, winning 52.7% of all runouts, while QJ (Queen-Jack) wins 46.9%. The remaining 0.4% are split pots. Counting splits as half, 88's preflop equity is 52.9%.
Does the 88 vs QJ probability change all-in preflop?
No. Once both hands are all-in preflop the odds are set by the cards alone — position, stack size and who bet first change nothing. The only thing that moves the number is suits: 88's equity runs from 50.8% to 53.9% depending on suitedness and which suits the two hands share, which is why different sites quote slightly different figures. It does change once board cards are dealt (88 leads on 64% of flops) and in multiway pots, where every extra caller takes equity from both hands.
Is 88 vs QJ a good spot to get all-in?
For 88, yes — a 52.9% favorite should happily commit, especially with fold equity. For QJ at 47.1%, it depends on the price: enough to continue with initiative, but thin enough that stacking off out of position is usually a leak.
Does 88 hold up against QJ after the flop?
88 is still ahead on 64% of flops and stays ahead through the turn on 60% of boards; QJ takes the lead on the other 36% 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
88 against a range
All-in against one known hand is the textbook case; at the table 88 is usually up against a range. Exact equities, computed over every combo with card removal applied:
- 88 vs calling station — 61.4% against 670 combos (50.5% of hands)
- 88 vs BTN open — 60.6% against 586 combos (44.2% of hands)
- 88 vs CO open — 57.2% against 366 combos (27.6% of hands)
- 88 vs 10bb shove — 57.4% against 334 combos (25.2% of hands)