88 vs QJ: Preflop Equity & Odds
| 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%.
How often does QJ beat 88?
QJ wins 46.9% of the time all-in preflop against 88 — essentially a coin flip, so it is close to even money.
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.
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