KK vs QJ: Preflop Equity & Odds
| Hand | Win | Tie | Equity |
|---|---|---|---|
| KK (Pocket Kings) | 85.2% | 0.4% | 85.4% |
| QJ (Queen-Jack) | 14.4% | 0.4% | 14.6% |
Suited vs offsuit: QJ
| Matchup | Win | Tie | Equity |
|---|---|---|---|
| QJs | 17.5% | 0.4% | 17.7% |
| QJo | 13.4% | 0.4% | 13.6% |
How KK vs QJ unfolds by street
Pocket Kings (KK) is still ahead on 96% of flops against QJ, and the lead survives to the turn on 91%. QJ takes the lead on the other 4% of flops. These figures come from full board enumeration, not a simulation.
| Street | KK still ahead | QJ flipped the lead |
|---|---|---|
| Flop | 96% | 4% |
| Turn | 91% | 9% |
KK vs QJ is about as good as a non-cooler gets for the pair: both of QJ's cards are undercards, so no single card flips the lead. KK wins 85.2%, QJ wins 14.4%, and 0.4% of boards chop. The underdog has to pair twice, make a straight or flush, or otherwise back in — which is why pairs stack undercards so reliably at a 5.9-to-1 clip.
Here's the intuition behind 85.4% to 14.6%: KK wins roughly 6 of every 7 times the chips go in, but the underdog cashing 14.6% of the time is exactly why you can't slow-play and let it draw for free.
How you play KK vs QJ depends on which side you hold. With KK you're not crushing, so keep the pot controllable and take the 85.2% 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.
KK vs QJ FAQ
Who wins KK vs QJ preflop?
KK (Pocket Kings) is the favorite, winning 85.2% of all runouts, while QJ (Queen-Jack) wins 14.4%. The remaining 0.4% are split pots. Counting splits as half, KK's preflop equity is 85.4%.
How often does QJ beat KK?
QJ wins 14.4% of the time all-in preflop against KK — roughly 1 in 7 — so it needs good pot odds or fold equity to get the money in profitably.
Is KK vs QJ a good spot to get all-in?
For KK, yes — a 85.4% favorite should happily commit, especially with fold equity. For QJ at 14.6%, it depends on the price: enough to continue with initiative, but thin enough that stacking off out of position is usually a leak.
Does KK hold up against QJ after the flop?
KK is still ahead on 96% of flops and stays ahead through the turn on 91% of boards; QJ takes the lead on the other 4% of flops. These are exact figures from full board enumeration.
Run any matchup in the free equity calculator · AA VS KJ · AA VS QJ · AA VS KK · KK VS AA · AA VS AK · AK VS AA