On many flops, 9-high will actually have more equity than king high, and it's seldom going to be dominated when it makes a pair. 98dd, by contrast, has 37.5% equity, and can realize all of it, because it can call flop and turn with an OESD (and can turn a BDFD). Against that simplified range KhTd has just under 17% equity, but it never realizes it, because it has to fold on the flop.
Suppose villain's betting range on a flop like Jc 7d 6s contains hands like JJ, AJ and A5s.
98s is generally* a better hand to call 3-bets with than KTo, because it typically has more equity vs villain's 3-bet range, and - being suited and connected - it also realizes that equity better.Į.g.
