How to play 53s preflop
3-handed · 100bb · SB 0.4bb · 5% rake, cap 10bb · 67 spots where 53s gets a decision
Opens (raise first in)
| Spot | 53s |
|---|---|
| BTN open (RFI) First to act | Fold 51.3% · Raise 2/2.6/3bb 48.7% |
| SB open (RFI) Folded to SB | Raise 2/2.6/3bb 67.8% · Call 25.5% · Fold 6.6% |
Facing an open or a limp
| Spot | 53s |
|---|---|
| BB vs SB limp SB limps | Call 82.6% · Raise 2/2.6/3bb 17.4% |
| BB vs SB open 2bb SB opens 2bb | Call 64.4% · Fold 32.4% · Raise 6bb 3.3% |
| BB vs SB open 2.6bb SB opens 2.6bb | Fold 59.9% · Call 37.4% · Raise 7.8bb 2.7% |
| BB vs SB open 3bb SB opens 3bb | Raise 9bb 50.1% · Call 43.6% · Fold 6.3% |
| SB vs BTN limp BTN limps | Fold 96.6% · Raise 2/2.6/3bb 3.3% · Call 0.1% |
| BB vs BTN limp BTN limps | Call 81% · Raise 2/2.6/3bb 19% |
| BB vs SB limp BTN limps, SB limps | Raise 2/2.6/3bb 96.2% · Call 3.8% |
| BB vs SB iso raise 2bb BTN limps, SB isolates to 2bb | Call 73.2% · Fold 25.6% · Raise 6bb 1.2% |
| BB vs SB iso raise 2.6bb BTN limps, SB isolates to 2.6bb | Fold 93.4% · Call 4.7% · Raise 7.8bb 1.9% |
| BB vs SB iso raise 3bb BTN limps, SB isolates to 3bb | Fold 39.6% · Raise 9bb 39.3% · Call 21% |
| SB vs BTN open 2bb BTN opens 2bb | Fold 71.3% · Raise 6bb 28.6% |
| BB vs BTN open 2bb BTN opens 2bb | Fold 76.1% · Call 18.9% · Raise 6bb 5% |
| BB vs SB call BTN opens 2bb, SB calls | Fold 77.5% · Raise 6bb 16.4% · Call 6.2% |
| SB vs BTN open 2.6bb BTN opens 2.6bb | Fold 98.9% · Raise 7.8bb 0.8% · Call 0.3% |
| BB vs BTN open 2.6bb BTN opens 2.6bb | Call 42.1% · Raise 7.8bb 32.4% · Fold 25.6% |
| BB vs SB call BTN opens 2.6bb, SB calls | Fold 92.2% · Call 7.4% · Raise 7.8bb 0.5% |
| SB vs BTN open 3bb BTN opens 3bb | Fold 76.2% · Raise 9bb 23.8% · Call 0.1% |
| BB vs BTN open 3bb BTN opens 3bb | Fold 73% · Raise 9bb 14% · Call 13% |
| BB vs SB call BTN opens 3bb, SB calls | Fold 70.9% · Raise 9bb 22.7% · Call 6.4% |
Facing an isolation raise
| Spot | 53s |
|---|---|
| SB vs BB iso raise 2bb SB limps, BB isolates to 2bb | Call 69.7% · Fold 30% · Raise 6bb 0.2% |
| SB vs BB iso raise 2.6bb SB limps, BB isolates to 2.6bb | Call 61.3% · Fold 31.9% · Raise 7.8bb 6.8% |
| SB vs BB iso raise 3bb SB limps, BB isolates to 3bb | Fold 86.1% · Call 12.4% · Raise 9bb 1.4% |
| SB: BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2bb, BTN folds BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2bb, BTN folds | Call 42.7% · Fold 29.2% · Raise 6bb 28.1% |
| SB vs BTN call BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2bb, BTN calls | Fold 69% · Raise 6bb 22% · Call 9% |
| SB: BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2.6bb, BTN folds BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2.6bb, BTN folds | Call 77.7% · Fold 18.1% · Raise 7.8bb 4.2% |
| SB vs BTN call BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2.6bb, BTN calls | Raise 7.8bb 50.6% · Fold 49.2% · Call 0.2% |
| SB: BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 3bb, BTN folds BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 3bb, BTN folds | Call 57.2% · Fold 39.4% · Raise 9bb 3.3% |
| SB vs BTN call BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 3bb, BTN calls | Fold 60.7% · Call 38.2% · Raise 9bb 1.1% |
Facing a 3-bet
| Spot | 53s |
|---|---|
| BB vs SB 3-bet 7.8bb SB limps, BB isolates to 2.6bb, SB 3-bets to 7.8bb | Fold 99.8% · Call 0.1% · Raise 18bb 0.1% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 9bb SB limps, BB isolates to 3bb, SB 3-bets to 9bb | Fold 72% · Call 27.8% · Raise 20.6bb 0.2% |
| SB vs BB 3-bet 6bb SB opens 2bb, BB 3-bets to 6bb | Fold 100% |
| SB vs BB 3-bet 7.8bb SB opens 2.6bb, BB 3-bets to 7.8bb | Fold 79.9% · Raise 18bb 20.1% · Call 0.1% |
| SB vs BB 3-bet 9bb SB opens 3bb, BB 3-bets to 9bb | Fold 70.9% · Call 29% |
| BB vs BTN 3-bet 6bb BTN limps, BB isolates to 2bb, BTN 3-bets to 6bb | Fold 99.8% · Call 0.2% |
| BB vs BTN 3-bet 7.8bb BTN limps, BB isolates to 2.6bb, BTN 3-bets to 7.8bb | Fold 98% · Raise 18bb 1.9% · Call 0.2% |
| BB vs BTN 3-bet 9bb BTN limps, BB isolates to 3bb, BTN 3-bets to 9bb | Fold 99.1% · Call 0.9% · Raise 20.6bb 0.1% |
| SB vs BTN 3-bet 6bb BTN limps, SB isolates to 2bb, BTN 3-bets to 6bb | Fold 74.4% · Call 20.4% · Raise 13.8bb 5.3% |
| SB vs BTN 3-bet 7.8bb BTN limps, SB isolates to 2.6bb, BTN 3-bets to 7.8bb | Fold 95.4% · Call 3.4% · Raise 18bb 1.2% |
| SB vs BTN 3-bet 9bb BTN limps, SB isolates to 3bb, BTN 3-bets to 9bb | Fold 95.3% · Raise 20.6bb 4.4% · Call 0.3% |
| BTN vs BB 3-bet 6bb BTN opens 2bb, BB 3-bets to 6bb | Fold 97.3% · Raise 13.8bb 2% · Call 0.8% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 6bb BTN opens 2bb, SB 3-bets to 6bb | Fold 94.1% · Raise 13.8bb 3.3% · Call 2.6% |
| BTN vs SB 3-bet 6bb BTN opens 2bb, SB 3-bets to 6bb | Fold 85.8% · Raise 13.8bb 14.1% · Call 0.1% |
| BTN vs BB 3-bet 7.8bb BTN opens 2.6bb, BB 3-bets to 7.8bb | Call 92.8% · Fold 7.2% · Raise 18bb 0.1% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 7.8bb BTN opens 2.6bb, SB 3-bets to 7.8bb | Fold 99.8% · Call 0.2% |
| BTN vs SB 3-bet 7.8bb BTN opens 2.6bb, SB 3-bets to 7.8bb | Fold 43.3% · Call 40.8% · Raise 18bb 15.9% |
| BTN vs BB 3-bet 9bb BTN opens 3bb, BB 3-bets to 9bb | Fold 95.8% · Call 4.2% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 9bb BTN opens 3bb, SB 3-bets to 9bb | Fold 99.4% · Raise 20.6bb 0.3% · Call 0.2% |
| BTN vs SB 3-bet 9bb BTN opens 3bb, SB 3-bets to 9bb | Call 48.5% · Fold 37.3% · Raise 20.6bb 14.1% |
Facing a 4-bet
| Spot | 53s |
|---|---|
| SB vs BB 4-bet 18bb SB limps, BB isolates to 2.6bb, SB 3-bets to 7.8bb, BB 4-bets to 18bb | Fold 90.4% · All-in 100bb 8.6% · Call 1.1% |
| SB vs BB 4-bet 20.6bb SB limps, BB isolates to 3bb, SB 3-bets to 9bb, BB 4-bets to 20.6bb | Fold 86.6% · Call 13.4% |
| BB vs SB 4-bet 13.8bb SB opens 2bb, BB 3-bets to 6bb, SB 4-bets to 13.8bb | Fold 79.9% · All-in 100bb 16% · Call 4.1% |
| BB vs SB 4-bet 18bb SB opens 2.6bb, BB 3-bets to 7.8bb, SB 4-bets to 18bb | Fold 60.4% · All-in 100bb 28.4% · Call 11.2% |
| BB vs SB 4-bet 20.6bb SB opens 3bb, BB 3-bets to 9bb, SB 4-bets to 20.6bb | Fold 99.6% · Call 0.2% · All-in 100bb 0.2% |
| BB vs BTN 4-bet 13.8bb BTN opens 2bb, BB 3-bets to 6bb, BTN 4-bets to 13.8bb | Fold 97.9% · All-in 100bb 1.8% · Call 0.3% |
| SB vs BTN 4-bet 13.8bb BTN opens 2bb, SB 3-bets to 6bb, BTN 4-bets to 13.8bb | Fold 98.9% · Call 1.1% |
| BB vs BTN 4-bet 18bb BTN opens 2.6bb, BB 3-bets to 7.8bb, BTN 4-bets to 18bb | Fold 99.5% · Call 0.2% · All-in 100bb 0.2% |
| SB vs BTN 4-bet 18bb BTN opens 2.6bb, SB 3-bets to 7.8bb, BTN 4-bets to 18bb | Fold 41.1% · All-in 100bb 33.9% · Call 25% |
| BB vs BTN 4-bet 20.6bb BTN opens 3bb, BB 3-bets to 9bb, BTN 4-bets to 20.6bb | Fold 90.7% · Call 7.4% · All-in 100bb 1.9% |
| SB vs BTN 4-bet 20.6bb BTN opens 3bb, SB 3-bets to 9bb, BTN 4-bets to 20.6bb | Fold 97.1% · All-in 100bb 2.9% |
Facing a 5-bet or shove
| Spot | 53s |
|---|---|
| SB vs BB all-in SB opens 2.6bb, BB 3-bets to 7.8bb, SB 4-bets to 18bb, BB goes all-in | Fold 98.6% · Call 1.4% |
| BB vs BTN all-in BTN limps, BB isolates to 2.6bb, BTN 3-bets to 7.8bb, BB 4-bets to 18bb, BTN goes all-in | Fold 81.8% · Call 18.2% |
| BTN vs BB all-in BTN opens 2bb, BB 3-bets to 6bb, BTN 4-bets to 13.8bb, BB goes all-in | Fold 94.8% · Call 5.2% |
| BTN vs SB all-in BTN opens 2bb, SB 3-bets to 6bb, BTN 4-bets to 13.8bb, SB goes all-in | Fold 99.2% · Call 0.8% |
| BTN vs SB all-in BTN opens 2.6bb, SB 3-bets to 7.8bb, BTN 4-bets to 18bb, SB goes all-in | Fold 99.8% · Call 0.2% |
| BTN vs SB all-in BTN opens 3bb, SB 3-bets to 9bb, BTN 4-bets to 20.6bb, SB goes all-in | Fold 100% |
Settings: 3-handed · 100bb · SB 0.4bb · 5% rake, cap 10bb (small blind 0.4bb, big blind 1bb, 100bb stacks, 5% rake capped at 10bb; before the flop, rake only after a 3-bet). Solver: HoldemResources Calculator (HRC). A jackpot fee on bigger pots is not in this solve, so lines that build big pots may be slightly too loose. Bet sizes are the solved ones; a size that is not here plays like the nearest one.
Fits exactly: no game we have checked.
Close: GGPoker regular cash NL5 (rake cap 5bb there, 10bb here).
Close: CoinPoker cash NL5 (rake cap 6bb there, 10bb here; only its tables without antes).
Close: Natural8 regular cash NL5 (rake cap 5bb there, 10bb here).
Close: ACR Poker cash NL5 (rake cap 20bb there, 10bb here; its page does not say whether pots that end before the flop are raked).
Rake sources: ggpoker.com/poker-games/texas-holdem (fetched 2026-10-31); Rush rake and preflop rake confirmed on our own GG exports (972 of 1,034 pots, 210 of 211); regular tables' preflop rule from natural8.com/en/poker/texas-holdem (same network, fetched 2026-10-31); coinpoker.com/games/texas-holdem/ (caps and the preflop rule) and coinpoker.com/guides/poker-rake/ (5%), fetched 2026-10-31; natural8.com/en/poker/texas-holdem (fetched 2026-10-31; caps by players dealt in, 3-bet pots raked before the flop); acrpoker.eu/real-money/poker-rake-calculation/ (fetched 2026-10-31).
Rake: Wrong rake for a 3-handed GG table: this solve caps the rake at 10bb, which is right only for a 6-max hand folded to the button. GG caps an NL5 table with 3 players dealt in at $0.25 (5bb). A solve with GG's cap is queued.