How to play 42s preflop
3-handed · BTN 3bb, SB 40bb, BB 25bb · SB 0.5bb · no rake · ICM, paying 80/20 · 92 spots where 42s gets a decision
Fits exactlyGGGGPoker Spin & Gold x10PSPokerStars Spin & Go x10PPpartypoker SPINS Overdrive 10-24.99x
CloseGGPSWMPPiPWPTACR16 games
- GGGGPoker Spin & Gold x4, x5the winner takes all there: chip EV
- GGGGPoker Spin & Gold x50, x100pays 60/30/10 there, 80/20 here
- GGGGPoker Spin & Gold Maxpays 50/30/20 there, 80/20 here
- PSPokerStars Spin & Go x25, x50, x100pays 80/12/8 there, 80/20 here
- PSPokerStars Spin & Go top tierpays 83.33/10/6.67 there, 80/20 here
- WMWinamax Expresso x2, x3, x4, x5, x10, x20the winner takes all there: chip EV; its pages do not say whether any level has an ante
- WMWinamax Expresso x100, x400, x1,000, jackpotpays 80/12/8 there, 80/20 here; its pages do not say whether any level has an ante
- PPpartypoker SPINS Overdrive 3-3.99x, 4-4.99x, 5-9.99xthe winner takes all there: chip EV
- PPpartypoker SPINS Overdrive 25-119.99x, 120-239.99x, 240x+pays 83.34/8.33/8.33 there, 80/20 here
- iPiPoker Twister x2, x3, x5, x8the winner takes all there: chip EV; its pages do not say whether any level has an ante
- iPiPoker Twister x50its sources disagree on the split (winner takes all, or 80/10/10); its pages do not say whether any level has an ante
- iPiPoker Twister x1,000pays 80/10/10 there, 80/20 here; its pages do not say whether any level has an ante
- WPTWPT Global Global Spins x3, x5the winner takes all there: chip EV
- WPTWPT Global Global Spins x10, x25pays 80/10/10 there, 80/20 here
- WPTWPT Global Global Spins x120, x240, x6,000pays 83.33/8.33/8.33 there, 80/20 here
- ACRACR Poker SPINZ x2, x3, x4, x5, x10, x25, x50, x100, x12,000its prize split is not published; its blinds are not published
Opens (raise first in)
| Spot | 42s |
|---|---|
| BTN open (RFI) First to act | Fold 100% |
| SB open (RFI) Folded to SB | Raise 2/2.5/3/25bb 97.4% · Call 2.4% · Fold 0.2% |
Facing an open or a limp
| Spot | 42s |
|---|---|
| BB vs SB limp SB limps | Raise 2/2.5/3bb 57.3% · Call 42.7% |
| BB vs SB open 2bb SB opens 2bb | Call 76.3% · Raise 5bb 15.5% · Fold 8.2% |
| BB vs SB open 2.5bb SB opens 2.5bb | Call 78.8% · Raise 6.25bb 21% · Fold 0.3% |
| BB vs SB open 3bb SB opens 3bb | Fold 93.8% · Call 6.2% |
| BB vs SB open 25bb SB opens 25bb | Fold 100% |
| SB vs BTN limp BTN limps | Fold 99.1% · Raise 2/2.5/3/25bb 0.8% · Call 0.2% |
| BB vs BTN limp BTN limps | Call 100% |
| BB vs SB limp BTN limps, SB limps | Call 98.3% · Raise 2/2.5/3bb 1.6% · All-in 25bb 0.1% |
| BB vs SB iso raise 2bb BTN limps, SB isolates to 2bb | Fold 98.1% · Call 1% · Raise 5bb 0.5% · All-in 25bb 0.3% |
| BB vs SB iso raise 2.5bb BTN limps, SB isolates to 2.5bb | Fold 98% · Call 1.2% · All-in 25bb 0.8% · Raise 6.25bb 0.1% |
| BB vs SB iso raise 3bb BTN limps, SB isolates to 3bb | Fold 98.9% · Raise 7.5bb 0.6% · All-in 25bb 0.5% |
| BB vs SB iso raise 25bb BTN limps, SB isolates to 25bb | Fold 99.9% · Call 0.1% |
| SB vs BTN all-in BTN goes all-in | Fold 100% |
| BB vs BTN all-in BTN goes all-in | Call 100% |
| BB vs SB call BTN goes all-in, SB calls | Fold 97.4% · Call 2.6% |
Facing an isolation raise
| Spot | 42s |
|---|---|
| SB vs BB iso raise 2bb SB limps, BB isolates to 2bb | Call 96.1% · Fold 3.7% · Raise 5/25bb 0.2% |
| SB vs BB iso raise 2.5bb SB limps, BB isolates to 2.5bb | Call 51.5% · Fold 48.5% |
| SB vs BB iso raise 3bb SB limps, BB isolates to 3bb | Fold 52.8% · Call 45.9% · Raise 7.5/25bb 1.4% |
| SB vs BB all-in SB limps, BB goes all-in | Fold 100% |
| SB: BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2bb, BTN folds BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2bb, BTN folds | Fold 58% · Call 21.5% · Raise 5/25bb 20.5% |
| SB vs BTN call BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2bb, BTN calls | Call 52.4% · Fold 39.1% · Raise 5/25bb 8.5% |
| SB: BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2.5bb, BTN folds BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2.5bb, BTN folds | Raise 6.3/25bb 85.1% · Fold 14.5% · Call 0.4% |
| SB vs BTN call BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2.5bb, BTN calls | Fold 37.1% · Raise 6.3/25bb 35.7% · Call 27.2% |
| SB: BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 3bb, BTN folds BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 3bb, BTN folds | Fold 50.9% · Raise 7.5/25bb 44.1% · Call 5% |
| SB vs BTN call BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 3bb, BTN calls | Call 48.2% · Fold 34.7% · Raise 7.5/25bb 17.1% |
| SB: BTN limps, SB limps, BB goes all-in, BTN folds BTN limps, SB limps, BB goes all-in, BTN folds | Call 51.2% · Fold 48.8% |
| SB vs BTN call BTN limps, SB limps, BB goes all-in, BTN calls | Fold 99.4% · Call 0.6% |
Facing a 3-bet
| Spot | 42s |
|---|---|
| BB vs SB 3-bet 5bb SB limps, BB isolates to 2bb, SB 3-bets to 5bb | Fold 99.4% · Call 0.5% · All-in 25bb 0.1% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 25bb SB limps, BB isolates to 2bb, SB 3-bets to 25bb | Fold 99.9% · Call 0.1% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 6.25bb SB limps, BB isolates to 2.5bb, SB 3-bets to 6.25bb | Fold 99.9% · Call 0.1% · All-in 25bb 0.1% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 25bb SB limps, BB isolates to 2.5bb, SB 3-bets to 25bb | Fold 99.8% · Call 0.2% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 7.5bb SB limps, BB isolates to 3bb, SB 3-bets to 7.5bb | Fold 96.2% · Call 3.2% · All-in 25bb 0.6% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 25bb SB limps, BB isolates to 3bb, SB 3-bets to 25bb | Fold 100% |
| SB vs BB 3-bet 5bb SB opens 2bb, BB 3-bets to 5bb | Fold 99.7% · Call 0.3% · Raise 25bb 0.1% |
| SB vs BB all-in SB opens 2bb, BB goes all-in | Fold 100% |
| SB vs BB 3-bet 6.25bb SB opens 2.5bb, BB 3-bets to 6.25bb | Fold 99.9% |
| SB vs BB all-in SB opens 2.5bb, BB goes all-in | Fold 100% |
| SB vs BB 3-bet 7.5bb SB opens 3bb, BB 3-bets to 7.5bb | Fold 99.5% · Call 0.4% · Raise 25bb 0.1% |
| SB vs BB all-in SB opens 3bb, BB goes all-in | Fold 100% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 5bb BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2bb, BTN folds, SB 3-bets to 5bb | Fold 80.3% · All-in 25bb 12.3% · Call 7.4% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 25bb BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2bb, BTN folds, SB 3-bets to 25bb | Fold 98.6% · Call 1.4% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 5bb BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2bb, BTN calls, SB 3-bets to 5bb | Fold 80.7% · Call 17.6% · All-in 25bb 1.7% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 25bb BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2bb, BTN calls, SB 3-bets to 25bb | Fold 87.8% · Call 12.2% |
| SB vs BTN all-in BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2bb, BTN goes all-in | Fold 70.5% · Raise 25bb 23.9% · Call 5.6% |
| BB: BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2bb, BTN goes all-in, SB folds BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2bb, BTN goes all-in, SB folds | Fold 90.6% · Call 9.4% |
| BB vs SB call BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2bb, BTN goes all-in, SB calls | Fold 92% · All-in 25bb 8% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 6.25bb BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2.5bb, BTN folds, SB 3-bets to 6.25bb | Fold 70.9% · All-in 25bb 28.8% · Call 0.2% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 25bb BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2.5bb, BTN folds, SB 3-bets to 25bb | Fold 96.6% · Call 3.4% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 6.25bb BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2.5bb, BTN calls, SB 3-bets to 6.25bb | Fold 79.9% · Call 19.8% · All-in 25bb 0.2% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 25bb BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2.5bb, BTN calls, SB 3-bets to 25bb | Fold 97.8% · Call 2.2% |
| SB vs BTN all-in BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2.5bb, BTN goes all-in | Fold 72.6% · Raise 25bb 14.3% · Call 13% |
| BB: BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2.5bb, BTN goes all-in, SB folds BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2.5bb, BTN goes all-in, SB folds | Call 82.8% · Fold 17.2% |
| BB vs SB call BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2.5bb, BTN goes all-in, SB calls | Fold 100% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 7.5bb BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 3bb, BTN folds, SB 3-bets to 7.5bb | Fold 99.1% · Call 0.8% · All-in 25bb 0.1% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 25bb BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 3bb, BTN folds, SB 3-bets to 25bb | Fold 99% · Call 1% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 7.5bb BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 3bb, BTN calls, SB 3-bets to 7.5bb | Fold 73.3% · All-in 25bb 18% · Call 8.7% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 25bb BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 3bb, BTN calls, SB 3-bets to 25bb | Fold 99.4% · Call 0.6% |
| SB vs BTN all-in BTN limps, SB isolates to 2bb, BTN goes all-in | Call 100% |
| SB vs BTN all-in BTN limps, SB isolates to 2bb, BB calls, BTN goes all-in | Raise 25bb 65.4% · Fold 20.8% · Call 13.8% |
| BB: BTN limps, SB isolates to 2bb, BB calls, BTN goes all-in, SB folds BTN limps, SB isolates to 2bb, BB calls, BTN goes all-in, SB folds | Call 61.8% · Fold 38.2% |
| BB vs SB call BTN limps, SB isolates to 2bb, BB calls, BTN goes all-in, SB calls | Fold 97.6% · All-in 25bb 2.4% |
| SB: BTN limps, SB isolates to 2bb, BB 3-bets to 5bb, BTN folds BTN limps, SB isolates to 2bb, BB 3-bets to 5bb, BTN folds | Call 39% · Fold 33.3% · Raise 25bb 27.7% |
| SB vs BTN call BTN limps, SB isolates to 2bb, BB 3-bets to 5bb, BTN calls | Fold 96.4% · Raise 25bb 3.6% |
| SB: BTN limps, SB isolates to 2bb, BB goes all-in, BTN folds BTN limps, SB isolates to 2bb, BB goes all-in, BTN folds | Fold 92% · Call 8% |
| SB vs BTN call BTN limps, SB isolates to 2bb, BB goes all-in, BTN calls | Fold 99.2% · Call 0.8% |
| SB vs BTN all-in BTN limps, SB isolates to 2.5bb, BTN goes all-in | Call 100% |
| SB vs BTN all-in BTN limps, SB isolates to 2.5bb, BB calls, BTN goes all-in | Call 73.3% · Fold 26.7% |
| BB: BTN limps, SB isolates to 2.5bb, BB calls, BTN goes all-in, SB folds BTN limps, SB isolates to 2.5bb, BB calls, BTN goes all-in, SB folds | Call 94.2% · Fold 5.8% |
| BB vs SB call BTN limps, SB isolates to 2.5bb, BB calls, BTN goes all-in, SB calls | Fold 89.5% · Call 10.5% |
| SB: BTN limps, SB isolates to 2.5bb, BB 3-bets to 6.25bb, BTN folds BTN limps, SB isolates to 2.5bb, BB 3-bets to 6.25bb, BTN folds | Fold 55.6% · Raise 25bb 28.6% · Call 15.8% |
| SB vs BTN call BTN limps, SB isolates to 2.5bb, BB 3-bets to 6.25bb, BTN calls | Fold 94.2% · Raise 25bb 5.8% |
| SB: BTN limps, SB isolates to 2.5bb, BB goes all-in, BTN folds BTN limps, SB isolates to 2.5bb, BB goes all-in, BTN folds | Fold 100% |
| SB vs BTN call BTN limps, SB isolates to 2.5bb, BB goes all-in, BTN calls | Fold 96.2% · Call 3.8% |
| SB: BTN limps, SB isolates to 3bb, BB 3-bets to 7.5bb, BTN folds BTN limps, SB isolates to 3bb, BB 3-bets to 7.5bb, BTN folds | Fold 43.6% · Call 32.1% · Raise 25bb 24.3% |
| SB vs BTN call BTN limps, SB isolates to 3bb, BB 3-bets to 7.5bb, BTN calls | Fold 80% · Raise 25bb 20% |
| SB: BTN limps, SB isolates to 3bb, BB goes all-in, BTN folds BTN limps, SB isolates to 3bb, BB goes all-in, BTN folds | Fold 77.9% · Call 22.1% |
| SB vs BTN call BTN limps, SB isolates to 3bb, BB goes all-in, BTN calls | Fold 94.9% · Call 5.1% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 7.5bb BTN goes all-in, SB 3-bets to 7.5bb | Fold 100% |
| BB vs SB 3-bet 25bb BTN goes all-in, SB 3-bets to 25bb | Fold 100% |
Facing a 4-bet
| Spot | 42s |
|---|---|
| BB vs SB 4-bet 25bb SB opens 2bb, BB 3-bets to 5bb, SB 4-bets to 25bb | Fold 100% |
| BB vs SB 4-bet 25bb SB opens 2.5bb, BB 3-bets to 6.25bb, SB 4-bets to 25bb | Fold 100% |
| BB vs SB 4-bet 25bb BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2bb, BTN goes all-in, SB 4-bets to 25bb | Fold 90.1% · Call 9.9% |
| BB vs SB 4-bet 25bb BTN limps, SB limps, BB isolates to 2.5bb, BTN goes all-in, SB 4-bets to 25bb | Fold 100% |
| BB vs SB 4-bet 25bb BTN limps, SB isolates to 2bb, BB calls, BTN goes all-in, SB 4-bets to 25bb | Fold 82.7% · Call 17.3% |
| BB vs SB 4-bet 25bb BTN limps, SB isolates to 2bb, BB 3-bets to 5bb, BTN folds, SB 4-bets to 25bb | Fold 99.7% · Call 0.3% |
| BB vs SB 4-bet 25bb BTN limps, SB isolates to 2bb, BB 3-bets to 5bb, BTN calls, SB 4-bets to 25bb | Fold 62.8% · Call 37.2% |
| BB vs SB 4-bet 25bb BTN limps, SB isolates to 2.5bb, BB 3-bets to 6.25bb, BTN folds, SB 4-bets to 25bb | Fold 96.4% · Call 3.6% |
| BB vs SB 4-bet 25bb BTN limps, SB isolates to 2.5bb, BB 3-bets to 6.25bb, BTN calls, SB 4-bets to 25bb | Fold 92.7% · Call 7.3% |
| BB vs SB 4-bet 25bb BTN limps, SB isolates to 3bb, BB 3-bets to 7.5bb, BTN folds, SB 4-bets to 25bb | Fold 83.3% · Call 16.7% |
| BB vs SB 4-bet 25bb BTN limps, SB isolates to 3bb, BB 3-bets to 7.5bb, BTN calls, SB 4-bets to 25bb | Fold 80.9% · Call 19.1% |
Settings: 3-handed · BTN 3bb, SB 40bb, BB 25bb · SB 0.5bb · no rake · ICM, paying 80/20 (small blind 0.5bb, big blind 1bb, stacks BTN 3bb, SB 40bb, BB 25bb, no rake; ICM paying 80/20: a stack is worth its chance of each prize, first 80% and second 20%, so chips lost count more than chips won). Solver: HoldemResources Calculator (HRC) (HRC CI 30.9). Bet sizes are the solved ones; a size that is not here plays like the nearest one.
Sources for the games it fits: ggpoker.com/poker-games/spin-gold (prize table in its script js/funds29.8816e65c.js; fetched 2026-10-31); chips and blinds from worldpokerdeals.com/blog/spin-gold-the-ultimate-guide-on-ggpoker-network (updated 2026-05-11; its 26-level blind table lists no ante) and somuchpoker.com/news/best-spin-and-go-poker-sites-2026 (updated 2026-10-16), fetched 2026-10-31; pokerstars.com/poker/spin-and-go (stacks and prize tables; fetched 2026-10-31); blinds from worldpokerdeals.com/blog/pokerstars-new-spin-go-multipliers-and-1000-spins (2026-05-27; its blind table lists no ante), fetched 2026-10-31; partypoker.com/en/poker/offers/dynamic-structure (stacks, prize shares and the 20-level blind table, which lists no ante), fetched 2026-10-31; winamax.fr/expresso (stacks, first blinds and prize tables; the same on winamax.es), fetched 2026-10-31; worldpokerdeals.com/blog/ipoker-twister-guide (2026-01-29; stacks and splits) and pokerstrategy.com/strategy/sit-and-go/twister-poker-let-go (first blinds), fetched 2026-10-31; wptglobal.com/how-to-play/global-spins (stacks and prize shares; fetched 2026-10-31); blinds from worldpokerdeals.com/blog/global-spins-wpt-global (2023-11-23; its blind table lists no ante) and somuchpoker.com/news/best-spin-and-go-poker-sites-2026 (2026-10-16); worldpokerdeals.com/blog/winning-poker-network-new-1-000-000-spin-go (2025-12-05; stacks only), fetched 2026-10-31.