93o vs 85o: 100BB Deep Stack Preflop Strategy and Equity Analysis

In poker, matchups between trash hands (e.g., 93o vs 85o) are often overlooked by many players. While such hands rarely enter pots voluntarily, understanding their relative equity and preflop strategy when both players hold weak hands can help you avoid unnecessary losses and even create exploitation opportunities in specific situations. This article, set against the backdrop of 100BB effective stacks (deep stacks), systematically explains the principles of the 93o vs 85o confrontation, preflop action guidelines, and deepens understanding through examples and common misconceptions.

1. Hand Definitions and Basic Equity

93o (9 of spades, 3 of spades, offsuit) and 85o (8 of hearts, 5 of hearts, offsuit) are both among the worst starting hands in poker. Typically, 93o's preflop all-in equity is only about 30% (against a random hand), while 85o is slightly higher at around 32% (because the two cards are closer together and there is no risk of a pair being broken). When facing each other:

• Equity Distribution: According to classic mathematical simulations, when 93o faces 85o in a preflop all-in scenario, the equity is approximately 47% vs 53% (93o is slightly lower). This is mainly because the two cards in 85o are closer together, making it easier to form straight draws, and 85o has more high cards (8 is smaller than 9, but 5 is larger than 3), resulting in a slight advantage after netting out. However, the difference is very small, and in practice, it is essentially a coin flip.
• Heads-Up Equity: If the hand goes all-in preflop, 93o will win about half the time and lose the other half. But post-flop actions can significantly alter equity.

2. Preflop Principles: Why Consider Strategy Even with Trash Hands?

When playing 100BB deep stacks, the preflop investment is very small (usually just the ante or small blind), but entering the pot incorrectly can lead to unfavorable post-flop situations. For hands like 93o and 85o:

1. Position Determines Value: Stealing blinds with very weak hands from the button or cutoff is a common strategy, but when facing a call (especially from the blinds), it is difficult to play post-flop. 93o and 85o almost never make strong hands and are easily dominated.
2. Implied Odds Are Nearly Zero: Even if these hands hit two pair or trips, opponents often have better made hands or draws, and with deep stacks, opponents have enough chips to make you pay. Low implied odds mean that even if you hit, you may win small but lose big.
3. Poor Playability: The probability of 93o making a straight or flush post-flop is extremely low. Even if you hit top pair (e.g., a 9 or 3), the kicker is very weak, making it hard to extract value from better pairs.
4. Impact of Opponent's Range: If an opponent calls with a wide range (e.g., a blind defense), 93o's equity against that range is typically below 35%; 85o, with a slightly better structure, yields equity around 38%. Both are well below the pot odds requirement.

3. Practical Examples

Example 1: Button vs Big Blind Assume you are in the big blind, and the button opens to 3BB. You hold 93o. Since you have already invested 1BB as the blind, you need to call 2BB to see the flop. Pot odds are approximately 3.5:2 (including the ante), so you need about 36% equity to break even. However, your 93o against the button's stealing range (about 40% of hands) has only about 30% equity, and you are out of position post-flop, making it hard to realize that equity. Therefore, the standard strategy is to fold.

Example 2: Small Blind vs Big Blind You are in the small blind with 85o, and the big blind is a tight-passive player. You try to steal by raising to 2.5BB. The big blind calls. The flop comes J♠8♦2♥. You hit top pair of eights, but the kicker (5) is very weak. In subsequent actions, if you continuation bet and the opponent calls, they may be holding Jx or 88+, making it hard for you to win a large pot. In such situations, it is best to fold preflop unless you are certain the opponent folds often.

Example 3: BTN vs SB (3-bet/Re-steal) You hold 93o on the BTN, and the SB raises to 3BB. You face a call costing 2.5BB (you've already put in 0.5BB), and the pot is about 4.5BB. Your hand against the SB's raising range (about 15% of hands) has only about 25% equity, and the positional advantage is insufficient to compensate. The correct action is to fold.

4. Common Misconceptions

• Misconception 1: "Trash hands can still win, so why not play them?" The truth is: while any two cards can win, the long-term expected value is extremely low. Ignoring the law of large numbers leads to long-term losses. For example, with 93o, out of every 100 times you enter the pot, you might only win 40-45 times, and those wins are often small pots, while losses can be large.
• Misconception 2: "All-in preflop and you might double up if you run good." Pushing all-in with trash hands is theoretically possible but requires extreme exploitative conditions (e.g., opponent is very tight and folds often). Typically, going all-in with 93o or 85o at deep stacks will result in significant losses because if the opponent calls, your equity is less than half, and the calling range is usually stronger.
• Misconception 3: "85o is better than 93o, so I can call." Although 85o is slightly better, the difference is too small to change the decision. In most preflop situations, both should be folds. Only in specific positions (e.g., big blind already invested and opponent raises small) might you consider defending, but even then it is not recommended.

5. Summary

In standard 100BB deep stack games, both 93o and 85o are nearly unplayable trash hands. Against any reasonable open, the standard correct action is to fold. Only when you are in a special position (e.g., on the button with no one raising) and confident in stealing blinds might you consider raising, but once called or re-raised, you should immediately give up. Remember: the long-term expected value of trash hands is negative; avoiding them is the foundation of profitability. Understanding these principles will help you reduce unnecessary variance and focus your energy on more valuable hands.