Should We ever fold KK Preflop in a cash game.

Folding pocket kings preflop is extremely rare in cash games, but there are a few narrow situations where it can make sense:

1. When Facing Extreme Action

Multiple 5-bets all-in deep stacked: If you’re playing very deep (300bb+) and two or more players are piling in huge preflop action, KK shrinks in value because the only realistic hands they can have are AA or, less often, KK/AK. Folding might save your stack if you’re certain the action only comes from AA.
Ultra-tight opponents: Against a nitty player (VPIP 10% / 3-bet 2%) who 5-bets all in for 200bb+, folding becomes reasonable, because their range is almost always AA.

2. Stack Depth Considerations

100bb effective (typical cash game): KK is almost always a stack-off preflop hand. Even if you run into AA occasionally, the long-term EV of folding kings in standard spots is terrible.
300bb+ effective: The deeper you are, the more dangerous it is to get it in preflop without AA, because the implied losses are massive.

3. Player Pool Tendencies

In live low-stakes ($1/$2 or $2/$5), almost nobody 5-bets without AA. If you’re up against an old man coffee type who 5-bets your 4-bet shove, you can make the hero fold and sleep at night.
Online mid/high stakes, players are capable of blasting wider (AK, QQ, bluffs), so folding KK preflop is almost never correct.

Rule of Thumb:

100bb deep or less → Never fold KK preflop.
200bb+ deep vs. a nitty player pool → Consider folding only to massive cold 4/5-bet shoves.

Example 1: 100bb Cash Game, Standard Ranges

Blinds: $1/$2 (100bb = $200 effective)
Villain 4-bets all-in after you 3-bet with KK.

If villain’s 4-bet all-in range is {QQ+, AK}:

Equity (KK vs QQ+, AK) ≈ 66%
Pot odds if you call: You’re risking $200 to win $200 already in the middle → 33% equity needed.
Since 66% > 33%, calling is massively +EV.
Folding here is a big mistake.

Example 2: 100bb vs Super Tight Villain

If villain only 5-bets with AA:

Equity (KK vs AA) ≈ 18%
Pot odds: still need 33% equity.
18% < 33% → You are making a losing call.
Folding KK is correct here.

But… how often does someone only shove AA preflop? Almost never at 100bb, unless you’re against the tightest nit at $1/$2 live.

Example 3: Deep Stacks 300bb (Live Cash)

Now blinds are $2/$5, and you and villain both have $1,500 stacks.

Villain 5-bets all-in $1,500 and you hold KK.

If villain’s range is {AA only}:

Equity (KK vs AA) = 18%
Pot odds: You’re risking $1,500 to win $1,500 → still need 33% equity.
You lose on average $225 every time you call.
Folding saves you a huge chunk long term.

Example 4: Multiway Madness

Suppose you’re in a live $2/$5 game with $1,000 stacks.

UTG nit opens.
Another nit 3-bets.
A third nit 4-bets all-in.
You hold KK in the big blind.

Multiway ranges this tight often collapse into AA heavy spots. KK shrinks badly in value, and folding preflop actually makes sense.

Takeaways

100bb standard cash games → Always stack off KK unless you’re 100% certain villain only ever 5-bets AA.
200bb+ vs ultra-nits → Folding KK becomes defensible.
Multiway 4/5-bet shoves → Folding KK is often the disciplined move.
In practice: at low stakes, almost never fold. At high stakes or deep live games, you sometimes have to.

Actual Hand Review:

I raised 15 UTG. BTN 3 bets to 30.
Villain is a lose older guy who is currently on a sun run at the table. Bought
in for $300 has close $1200 after an hour. Effective stack is me at $240.
I 4 bet to $100 and he Jams all in. I have played multiple session with this
guy, and I have seen him do this with 99, AJ suited.

Pot = $340
Villain shoves, you need to call $140
Villain has AA, you have KK

Step 1: Pot odds

When you call $140, the total pot will be:

340+140=480

Your call is $140 to win $480.

So your required equity is:

140480=0.2917≈29.2%\frac{140}{480} = 0.2917 \approx 29.2\%480140=0.2917≈29.2%

Step 2: Actual equity (KK vs AA)

Equity(KK vs AA)≈18%Equity(KK \text{ vs } AA) \approx 18\%Equity(KK vs AA)≈18%

Step 3: Compare

Needed equity: 29.2%
Actual equity: 18%

Since 18% < 29.2%, you do not have the correct odds to call.

Folding is the correct decision if you know villain has AA.

Step 1: Equity of KK vs {AA, AK}

KK vs AA = ~18%
KK vs AK = ~70%

Now it depends on the weighting (how often villain has AA vs AK).

Step 2: Equal weighting (50% AA, 50% AK)

Equity=(0.5×18%)+(0.5×70%)=9%+35%=44%Equity = (0.5 \times 18\%) + (0.5 \times 70\%) = 9\% + 35\% = 44\%Equity=(0.5×18%)+(0.5×70%)=9%+35%=44%

Step 3: Compare to required equity

Needed = 29.2%
Actual = 44%

Correct call — profitable long term.

Step 4: What if Villain is more AA-heavy?

If villain has AA 75% of the time, AK 25%:

Equity=(0.75×18%)+(0.25×70%)=13.5%+17.5%=31%Equity = (0.75 \times 18\%) + (0.25 \times 70\%) = 13.5\% + 17.5\% = 31\%Equity=(0.75×18%)+(0.25×70%)=13.5%+17.5%=31%

Still slightly above 29.2% → calling is barely profitable.

If villain has AA 80%+, AK 20%-:
Equity drops below ~29% → folding becomes correct again.

Takeaway

If villain shoves only AA → fold KK (not enough equity).
If villain shoves AA + AK at any reasonable mix (≥25% AK) → you do have the odds to call.
The decision really comes down to how often villain jams AK.

A few highlights from the data:

100% AA → Fold (18% equity).
75% AA / 25% AK → Call (31% equity).
75% AA / 25% QQ → Call (34% equity).
75% AA / 25% bluffs → Call (33.5% equity).
50% AA / 50% AK → Call (44% equity).

The moment villain adds any reasonable mix of AK, QQ or bluffs, KK almost always becomes a profitable call.