AK vs QJ: Odds & Interactive Calculator
| Hand | Win | Tie | Equity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK (Ace-King) | 64.1% | 0.5% | 64.3% |
| QJ (Queen-Jack) | 35.4% | 0.5% | 35.7% |
Suited vs offsuit: AK
| Matchup | Win | Tie | Equity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AKs | 65.5% | 0.5% | 65.7% |
| AKo | 63.7% | 0.5% | 63.9% |
How AK vs QJ unfolds by street
Ace-King (AK) is still ahead on 74% of flops against QJ, and the lead survives to the turn on 69%. QJ takes the lead on the other 26% of flops. These figures come from full board enumeration, not a simulation.
| Street | AK still ahead | QJ flipped the lead |
|---|---|---|
| Flop | 74% | 26% |
| Turn | 69% | 31% |
Two unpaired hands with all four ranks live: AK vs QJ. AK wins 64.1%, QJ wins 35.4%, and 0.5% of boards chop. The favorite isn't running away with it — 35.4% of the time QJ pairs up first or backs into the better runout — but higher cards making higher pairs is enough to keep AK in front.
Translate that into a decision and it's simple pot-odds math: counting split pots as half, AK carries 64.3% equity and QJ 35.7%. 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 AK vs QJ depends on which side you hold. With AK you're not crushing, so keep the pot controllable and take the 64.1% 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.
Where to take AK vs QJ next
Getting it in near the money bubble or at a final table? Chip equity isn't prize equity — check the spot in the ICM calculator before you call off your stack.
Played a hand like this yourself? Import it into the poker hand analyzer for a street-by-street review of every decision, not just the all-in.
For the bigger picture, the poker tournament strategy guide covers when to shove and when to fold as stacks shrink, and what GTO poker is explains why strong players think in ranges rather than single hands.
New to the game? The poker hand rankings chart shows which hand wins at showdown, how to play poker: a beginner's guide walks through the rules and betting rounds, and the poker strategy guide shows where preflop equity fits into a winning game plan.
AK vs QJ FAQ
Who wins AK vs QJ preflop?
AK (Ace-King) is the favorite, winning 64.1% of all runouts, while QJ (Queen-Jack) wins 35.4%. The remaining 0.5% are split pots. Counting splits as half, AK's preflop equity is 64.3%.
Does the AK 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: AK's equity runs from 60.4% to 66.6% 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 (AK leads on 74% of flops) and in multiway pots, where every extra caller takes equity from both hands.
Is AK vs QJ a good spot to get all-in?
For AK, yes — a 64.3% favorite should happily commit, especially with fold equity. For QJ at 35.7%, 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 QJ after the flop?
AK is still ahead on 74% of flops and stays ahead through the turn on 69% of boards; QJ takes the lead on the other 26% of flops. These are exact figures from full board enumeration.
Run any matchup in the free equity calculator · AK VS QT · AQ VS KJ · AQ VS KT · AQ VS JT · AJ VS KQ · AJ VS KT
AK against a range
All-in against one known hand is the textbook case; at the table AK is usually up against a range. Exact equities, computed over every combo with card removal applied:
- AK vs calling station — 64.5% against 670 combos (50.5% of hands)
- AK vs BTN open — 64.0% against 586 combos (44.2% of hands)
- AK vs SB open — 64.0% against 534 combos (40.3% of hands)
- AK vs CO open — 61.7% against 366 combos (27.6% of hands)