Learn GTO preflop theory in MTT poker

8 of hearts5 of hearts

Suited two-gapper

Eight-Five Suited

85s is a suited two-gapper. It has useful implied odds when deep, but less straight connectivity than 75s or 86s. It can flop a made straight on 6-7-9, a gutshot on 7-9, or only a backdoor flush draw on many boards.

Pocket33

How to play 85s by position and stack size

Recommended actionUTG8-maxUTG18-maxLJ6-maxHJ6-maxCO6-maxBTN6-maxSB6-max
100bb+FoldFoldFoldFoldFoldOpenLimp
40-100bbFoldFoldFoldFoldFoldOpenLimp
27-40bbFoldFoldFoldFoldFoldFoldOpen
20-26bbFoldFoldFoldFoldFoldFoldLimp
16-19bbFoldFoldFoldFoldFoldFoldLimp
11-15bbFoldFoldFoldFoldFoldFoldJam
7-10bbFoldFoldFoldFoldFoldFoldJam
6bb-FoldFoldFoldFoldFoldFoldJam
Open when:Late position and the chart includes it

Do not make it a standard open from early or middle position.

3bet when:Rarely and only in a charted bluff mix

It has few high-card blockers and weak equity when called.

Call when:In position or BB at a good price

Deep effective stacks make hidden straights more valuable.

Jam when:Only a selected shallow-stack chart supports it

Suitedness alone is not enough fold equity.

Fold when:Against early strength, large sizings, or shallow stacks

85s is often reduced to a weak pair.

Strong against

8 of spades4 of spades
84s

84s shares the Eight but has the weaker kicker, making a dominated pair that can still pay 85s.

Weak against

  • 8 of spades6 of spades
    86s

    86s shares the Eight with the better kicker, so 85s can make a costly second-best pair.

Flop classes

6 of hearts7 of spades9 of hearts
Made straight

85s makes the 5-6-7-8-9 straight. This is a made straight, with flush and higher-straight redraws still relevant.

7 of hearts9 of spadesA of hearts
Gutshot

The 5-6-7-8-9 run is missing only the 6, so 85s has a gutshot to the 5-9 straight.

A of spadesQ of hearts2 of spades
Backdoor flush draw

One spade on the flop gives a backdoor flush draw, but there is no pair or immediate straight draw.

Strategic notes

Versus 3-bets
  • Usually fold: Call only when position, price, and effective depth provide credible implied odds.
  • The two-gap structure produces fewer immediate straight draws than 75s or 86s. Check the actual ranks before continuing.
Post-flop playability
  • Prefer deep, positionally favorable pots: 85s earns much of its value from disguised straights and flushes.
  • Do not overplay top pair: An 8 can be dominated by better kickers and strong continuing ranges.
  • Separate gutshots from OESDs: 85s does not have an open-ended draw on every board containing two low cards.

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