Learn GTO preflop theory in MTT poker

8 of hearts6 of hearts

Suited one-gapper

Eight-Six Suited

86s is a suited one-gapper with the strongest straight connectivity of these six hands. It can flop a made straight on 5-7-9 or an OESD on 5-7. It remains a selective late-position open or big-blind defend, not a universal continue.

Pocket33

How to play 86s by position and stack size

Recommended actionUTG8-maxUTG18-maxLJ6-maxHJ6-maxCO6-maxBTN6-maxSB6-max
100bb+FoldFoldFoldFoldOpenOpenLimp
40-100bbFoldFoldFoldFoldOpenOpenLimp
27-40bbFoldFoldFoldFoldFoldFoldLimp
20-26bbFoldFoldFoldFoldFoldFoldLimp
16-19bbFoldFoldFoldFoldFoldFoldLimp
11-15bbFoldFoldFoldFoldFoldJamJam
7-10bbFoldFoldFoldFoldFoldJamJam
6bb-FoldFoldFoldFoldJamJamJam
Open when:Late position and the chart includes it

Earlier opens require stronger range and table conditions.

3bet when:Rarely as a charted bluff

Its low card ranks do not block enough strong 4-bet or call ranges.

Call when:From the big blind against a late open at a favorable price

Position and effective depth are especially valuable for this disguised draw hand.

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

Fold equity and tournament context must drive the shove.

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

A pair of eights is often dominated.

Strong against

8 of spades5 of spades
85s

85s shares the Eight but has the weaker kicker, making a dominated pair that can still pay 86s.

Weak against

  • 8 of spades7 of spades
    87s

    87s shares the Eight with the better kicker, so 86s can make a costly second-best pair.

Flop classes

5 of hearts7 of spades9 of hearts
Made straight

86s makes the 5-6-7-8-9 straight. It is a made straight, not a draw.

5 of hearts7 of spadesA of hearts
Open-ended straight draw

With 5-7 on the board, 86s has 5-6-7-8 and can complete a straight with a 4 or 9.

4 of hearts7 of spadesA of hearts
Gutshot

The 4-6-7-8 sequence needs a 5, so this is a gutshot.

Strategic notes

Versus 3-bets
  • Usually fold: Continue only when position, price, and effective depth make the implied odds worthwhile.
  • The one-gap structure is useful on specific flops. It does not justify defending every low board.
Post-flop playability
  • Apply pressure with real draws: OESDs and made straights can support aggression when the range advantage is credible.
  • Keep top pair controlled: A pair of eights is not automatically a value hand against a strong range.
  • Use position to realize backdoors: Out of position, missed backdoors lose value and dominated pairs become expensive.

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