AQ vs 88: Preflop Equity & Odds
| Hand | Win | Tie | Equity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AQ (Ace-Queen) | 45.2% | 0.4% | 45.4% |
| 88 (Pocket Eights) | 54.4% | 0.4% | 54.6% |
Suited vs offsuit: AQ
| Matchup | Win | Tie | Equity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AQs | 47.2% | 0.4% | 47.4% |
| AQo | 44.5% | 0.4% | 44.7% |
How AQ vs 88 unfolds by street
Pocket Eights (88) is still ahead on 67% of flops against AQ, and the lead survives to the turn on 61%. AQ takes the lead on the other 33% of flops. These figures come from full board enumeration, not a simulation.
| Street | 88 still ahead | AQ flipped the lead |
|---|---|---|
| Flop | 67% | 33% |
| Turn | 61% | 39% |
AQ vs 88 is the classic preflop race — a pocket pair against two overcards (one-gap overcards). Here the overcards actually edge in front: 88 wins 54.4%, AQ wins 45.2%, and 0.4% of boards chop. The unpaired hand has six outs twice over (any Eight or Eight), and with a little extra straight equity the whole thing sits within a few points of a coin flip. You'll hear this matchup argued about constantly — the enumerator settles it for good.
At a final table the raw 54.6% / 45.4% split is only half the story — ICM bends it. As the 45.4% underdog, AQ 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.
In practice, AQ vs 88 rewards aggression from the favorite and caution from the dog: 88 wants to realize its 54.4% edge by getting value and denying free cards, while AQ should lean on fold equity and position rather than hoping to win the pot at showdown about 1 time in 2.
AQ vs 88 FAQ
Who wins AQ vs 88 preflop?
88 (Pocket Eights) is the favorite, winning 54.4% of all runouts, while AQ (Ace-Queen) wins 45.2%. The remaining 0.4% are split pots. Counting splits as half, AQ's preflop equity is 45.4%.
Does the AQ vs 88 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: AQ's equity runs from 44.3% to 47.6% 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 (88 leads on 67% of flops) and in multiway pots, where every extra caller takes equity from both hands.
Is 88 vs AQ a good spot to get all-in?
For 88, yes — a 54.6% favorite should happily commit, especially with fold equity. For AQ at 45.4%, 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 AQ after the flop?
88 is still ahead on 67% of flops and stays ahead through the turn on 61% of boards; AQ takes the lead on the other 33% of flops. These are exact figures from full board enumeration.
Run any matchup in the free equity calculator · AA VS KK · KK VS AA · AA VS AK · AK VS AA · KK VS AK · AK VS KK
AQ against a range
All-in against one known hand is the textbook case; at the table AQ is usually up against a range. Exact equities, computed over every combo with card removal applied:
- AQ vs calling station — 62.7% against 670 combos (50.5% of hands)
- AQ vs BTN open — 62.2% against 586 combos (44.2% of hands)
- AQ vs SB open — 61.9% against 534 combos (40.3% of hands)
- AQ vs CO open — 58.7% against 366 combos (27.6% of hands)