AA vs 98s: Preflop Equity & Odds
| Hand | Win | Tie | Equity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AA (Pocket Aces) | 77.8% | 0.3% | 77.9% |
| 98s (Nine-Eight Suited) | 21.9% | 0.3% | 22.1% |
How AA vs 98s unfolds by street
Pocket Aces (AA) is still ahead on 93% of flops against 98s, and the lead survives to the turn on 87%. 98s takes the lead on the other 7% of flops. These figures come from full board enumeration, not a simulation.
| Street | AA still ahead | 98s flipped the lead |
|---|---|---|
| Flop | 93% | 7% |
| Turn | 87% | 13% |
AA vs 98s is the "big pair against live cards" spot: AA wins 77.8%, 98s wins 21.9%, and 0.3% of boards chop. 98s is the kind of hand that hates folding — its flush and straight draws mean it gets there roughly 21.9% of the time, far more often than a dominated big-card hand could.
At a final table the raw 77.9% / 22.1% split is only half the story — ICM bends it. As the 22.1% underdog, 98s pays an extra survival premium, so the chip-EV "close enough" call can be a clear ICM fold. The pure equity sets the floor; the payout ladder sets the real price.
With the overpair, bet big and bet now — 98s has the draws to make your life miserable on later streets, so charging it the maximum before the flush and straight cards arrive is the entire plan. From the connectors' side, the 21.9% equity is real but realized best in position with the chance to fold out the pair, not by stacking off blind.
AA vs 98s FAQ
Who wins AA vs 98s preflop?
AA (Pocket Aces) is the favorite, winning 77.8% of all runouts, while 98s (Nine-Eight Suited) wins 21.9%. The remaining 0.3% are split pots. Counting splits as half, AA's preflop equity is 77.9%.
How often does 98s beat AA?
98s wins 21.9% of the time all-in preflop against AA — roughly 1 in 5 — so it needs good pot odds or fold equity to get the money in profitably.
Are suited connectors good against AA?
Better than almost any other underdog: 98s holds 22.1% equity against AA thanks to its straight and flush potential — roughly 1 win in 5. That equity is realized best with position and fold equity postflop, not by jamming all-in preflop where the overpair is a 3.6-to-1 favorite.
Does AA hold up against 98s after the flop?
AA is still ahead on 93% of flops and stays ahead through the turn on 87% of boards; 98s takes the lead on the other 7% of flops. These are exact figures from full board enumeration.
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