Poker Strategy

Commonly Misplayed Hands Part II: "AJ"
“Ajax” is one of its nick names and it can clean you out too! Ace Jack is a dangerous hand that needs to be carefully considered before you play it! It has to rank up there as one of the most misplayed hands there is.

The problem with AJ is its beauty. Like the Sirens it looks so pretty it lures unsuspecting players onto the rocks where they crash and burn. So why play it at all? Well, it’s still a good hand and played correctly with some thought, it is a decent hand. My point is that it’s overrated by most players and not nearly as strong as they seem to think.

AJ is a “glass cannon”. It’s either a huge favourite, a huge underdog or 50/50.

It’s a huge favourite against the likes of A9, a huge underdog to the likes of AQ/AK, JJ-AA and a coin flip against under pairs. With AJ, your read on the table and your opponents in that hand is crucial. You can’t complain “I was on a loose table” when you called the only rock at the table! Raising with AJ is a question of taste and position but it’s rare to find a table where AJ can stand a re-raise.

If you are facing a re-raise, what cards would you expect to see your opponent hold that you will be happy to see when holding AJ yourself? List them out. Now list out the hands that you could find him with that dominate AJ. List them too. Now compare lists and I think you’ll see my point!

In a re-raised pot, an Ace high flop may be the WORST thing that comes! Obviously a Jack high flop suits you, provided your opponent isn’t holding JJ-AA. I hope you can see now that careful consideration needs to be given to AJ. It’s a good hand but given its location at the top of the deck and yet a relatively weak kicker, it’s a hand that cannot withstand a great deal of action. You have been warned….