AK vs 98s: Preflop Equity & Odds
| Hand | Win | Tie | Equity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK (Ace-King) | 60.7% | 0.4% | 61.0% |
| 98s (Nine-Eight Suited) | 38.8% | 0.4% | 39.0% |
Suited vs offsuit: AK
| Matchup | Win | Tie | Equity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AKs | 62.6% | 0.5% | 62.9% |
| AKo | 60.1% | 0.4% | 60.3% |
How AK vs 98s unfolds by street
Ace-King (AK) is still ahead on 70% of flops against 98s, and the lead survives to the turn on 67%. 98s takes the lead on the other 30% of flops. These figures come from full board enumeration, not a simulation.
| Street | AK still ahead | 98s flipped the lead |
|---|---|---|
| Flop | 70% | 30% |
| Turn | 67% | 33% |
AK vs 98s is a four-live-card fight — no pair, no shared rank, just rank order and geometry. AK wins 60.7%, 98s wins 38.8%, and 0.4% of boards chop. Whoever pairs first usually scoops, so the edge comes from AK making the higher pair plus whatever straight and flush equity runs between the two hands.
Think in variance terms: 61.0% equity means AK loses this all-in nearly 39 times in 100, so even a "dominant" spot is a coin you'll see come up tails plenty. Getting it in as the 61.0% favorite is correct every time; the 39.0% that goes the other way is math, not a misplay.
In practice, AK vs 98s rewards aggression from the favorite and caution from the dog: AK wants to realize its 60.7% edge by getting value and denying free cards, while 98s should lean on fold equity and position rather than hoping to win the pot at showdown about 1 time in 3.
AK vs 98s FAQ
Who wins AK vs 98s preflop?
AK (Ace-King) is the favorite, winning 60.7% of all runouts, while 98s (Nine-Eight Suited) wins 38.8%. The remaining 0.4% are split pots. Counting splits as half, AK's preflop equity is 61.0%.
How often does 98s beat AK?
98s wins 38.8% of the time all-in preflop against AK — a genuine underdog, but with enough live outs (about 1 in 3) that the matchup is closer than the favorite would like.
Is AK vs 98s a good spot to get all-in?
For AK, yes — a 61.0% favorite should happily commit, especially with fold equity. For 98s at 39.0%, it depends on the price: enough to continue with initiative, but thin enough that stacking off out of position is usually a leak.
Does AK hold up against 98s after the flop?
AK is still ahead on 70% of flops and stays ahead through the turn on 67% of boards; 98s takes the lead on the other 30% of flops. These are exact figures from full board enumeration.
Run any matchup in the free equity calculator · AK VS QJ · AK VS QT · AQ VS KJ · AQ VS KT · AQ VS JT · AJ VS KQ