AK vs QJ: Preflop Equity & Odds
| 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.
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%.
How often does QJ beat AK?
QJ wins 35.4% 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 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