AJ is absolutely the worst hand

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CupOfSalt

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There is no other hand I hate more than AJ. I get screwed with it every single time. Either I get outpipped by AQ or AK, I don't connect at all, or when I do connect I almost never get paid off.

I don't know if I'm misplaying it, but I seriously get screwed over by AJ way more often than any other hand. I can't win by raising with it, I can't win by calling with it.... It consistently loses me a ton of money.

Advice?
 
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ph_il

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Provide hand histories of you playing AJ
 
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CupOfSalt

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I should clarify... I have no problems with AJ in cash games.... only tournaments.
 
fletchdad

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still, HH will help clarify.

Stack size is very relevant. Position, bubble, and lots of other stuff.

To say AJ is a bad hand doesent make sense. It is a very good hand.

Sometimes.....
 
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Foldemz

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Yeah, I'm with Philthy. We need hand histories. I used to over value AJ myself.

When you play a hand like AJ you really want to flop a Jack, not an Ace. It's still a premium worth a raise but maybe you think it's got to be good on something like an A 5 10 flop, which isn't the case at all. Many Ax hands can get in there, and depending if they are OOP (maybe in the SB) they aren't going to 3 bet a hand like A10o

My point is a safer flop would be something like 2 J 6 rainbow
 
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CupOfSalt

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Yeah, I'm with Philthy. We need hand histories. I used to over value AJ myself.

When you play a hand like AJ you really want to flop a Jack, not an Ace. It's still a premium worth a raise but maybe you think it's got to be good on something like an A 5 10 flop, which isn't the case at all. Many Ax hands can get in there, and depending if they are OOP (maybe in the SB) they aren't going to 3 bet a hand like A10o

My point is a safer flop would be something like 2 J 6 rainbow

So proceed cautiously when you flop an Ace with AJ? This seems to be pretty insightful because this is usually what happens. I'm either outpipped or the villain(s) call with a weak ace and hit a two pair.
 
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CupOfSalt

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Player in BB had been overcalling with weak aces all night, 2-bet shoving me on the turn all night... I folded such good hands to him all night and finally I had enough at this point. Obviously, looking at it now it's a terrible donk call-off of my whole stack. Should I have check-called on the turn? If the river comes the Kd then I'm still value betting anyway and of course he's going to raise and then I guess I can get away from it? As I said there were multiple spots the whole night where he called me down on the river with an Ace-rag where I had at least AT. Also, note his PFR % was literally ZERO. He did not raise pre flop once the whole night. I have no idea how to adjust to that when you get raised or 2-bet shoved on the turn (happened all night).

No Limit Hold'em Tournament T40/T80
Buy-in: 10+1 Hold'em No Limit
pokerstars
3 players
Formatted by pokercopilot.com: Poker HUD for Mac and Windows

Stacks:
BTN - BTN (T7,235)
SB - Hero (T10,767)
BB - BB (T11,998)

Preflop: (T150, 3 players) Hero is SB with J A
BTN raises to T160, Hero raises to T350, BB calls T270, BTN calls T190

Flop: 4 7 A (T1,080, 3 players)
Hero checks, BB bets T1,080, 1 fold, Hero calls T1,080

Turn: T (T3,240, 2 players)
Hero bets T1,840, BB raises to T10,558 (all-in), Hero calls T7,487 (all-in), Uncalled bet of T1,231 returned to BB

River: K (T21,894, 2 players, 1 all-in)

Total Pot: T21,894
Hero shows J A (a pair of Aces)
BB shows Q A (a pair of Aces - King+Queen kicker)

BB wins T21,894
 
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Foldemz

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So proceed cautiously when you flop an Ace with AJ? This seems to be pretty insightful because this is usually what happens. I'm either outpipped or the villain(s) call with a weak ace and hit a two pair.

Precisely. When you raise up and get called it's certainly possibly that AQ flats. And he's already got you outkicked. So really you're just looking for a Jack on a dry board. Once I realized that I was able to play AJ much more effectively.

Now that's not saying that you won't be good on an Axx board, but don't be trying to get your whole stack in there.
 
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CupOfSalt

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Precisely. When you raise up and get called it's certainly possibly that AQ flats. And he's already got you outkicked. So really you're just looking for a Jack on a dry board. Once I realized that I was able to play AJ much more effectively.

Now that's not saying that you won't be good on an Axx board, but don't be trying to get your whole stack in there.

So when that situation occurs of AQ or AK floating, and you do hit an A on the board... how do you minimize the losses? Play it passively both in and out of position?
 
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Foldemz

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Player in BB had been overcalling with weak aces all night, 2-bet shoving me on the turn all night... I folded such good hands to him all night and finally I had enough at this point. Obviously, looking at it now it's a terrible donk call-off of my whole stack. Should I have check-called on the turn? If the river comes the Kd then I'm still value betting anyway and of course he's going to raise and then I guess I can get away from it? As I said there were multiple spots the whole night where he called me down on the river with an Ace-rag where I had at least AT. Also, note his PFR % was literally ZERO. He did not raise pre flop once the whole night. I have no idea how to adjust to that when you get raised or 2-bet shoved on the turn (happened all night).

No Limit Hold'em Tournament T40/T80
Buy-in: 10+1 Hold'em No Limit
PokerStars
3 players
Formatted by pokercopilot.com: Poker HUD for Mac and Windows

Stacks:
BTN - BTN (T7,235)
SB - Hero (T10,767)
BB - BB (T11,998)

Preflop: (T150, 3 players) Hero is SB with J A
BTN raises to T160, Hero raises to T350, BB calls T270, BTN calls T190

Flop: 4 7 A (T1,080, 3 players)
Hero checks, BB bets T1,080, 1 fold, Hero calls T1,080

Turn: T (T3,240, 2 players)
Hero bets T1,840, BB raises to T10,558 (all-in), Hero calls T7,487 (all-in), Uncalled bet of T1,231 returned to BB

River: K (T21,894, 2 players, 1 all-in)

Total Pot: T21,894
Hero shows J A (a pair of Aces)
BB shows Q A (a pair of Aces - King+Queen kicker)

BB wins T21,894


I like the raise pre because the button could be opening with any two. But leading the turn doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. What would that bet accomplish? No better Ace is folding right? I think check calling would be a much better play. Like I said just proceed with caution in these cases.
 
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CupOfSalt

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I like the raise pre because the button could be opening with any two. But leading the turn doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. What would that bet accomplish? No better Ace is folding right? I think check calling would be a much better play. Like I said just proceed with caution in these cases.

I was trying to protect my hand with the two flush draws out there. Also, I wanted the weaker aces to pay to see a river and this villain is dumb enough to call or even shove with an underpair. This villain would bet or call with a weak ace and not pay attention to the kicker whatsoever. In other hands, if I played passively and there was an A on board, he would also raise me thinking his weak ace was good. Also, he saw 52% of flops, CPFR 44% of the time, and PFR 3% of the time. This is over 3 tournaments. He knows I'm capable of folding the best hand and he would likely 2-bet shove here or even flat on the turn with 99, TT, JJ, QQ, KK. Like I was saying earlier, it's very hard for me to play against him because he's so passive, calls everything, and then will just shove it all in on the river with very coordinated boards.
 
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zefalosss

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AJ is not a worst-hand, every hand has a power but you need to adjust and know how to play it, maybe you are playing just with NITS.
 
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CupOfSalt

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AJ is not a worst-hand, every hand has a power but you need to adjust and know how to play it, maybe you are playing just with NITS.

The exact opposite, I'm playing with maniacs that bet everything and never fold.
 
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Foldemz

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I was trying to protect my hand with the two flush draws out there. Also, I wanted the weaker aces to pay to see a river and this villain is dumb enough to call or even shove with an underpair. This villain would bet or call with a weak ace and not pay attention to the kicker whatsoever. In other hands, if I played passively and there was an A on board, he would also raise me thinking his weak ace was good. Also, he saw 52% of flops, CPFR 44% of the time, and PFR 3% of the time. This is over 3 tournaments. He knows I'm capable of folding the best hand and he would likely 2-bet shove here or even flat on the turn with 99, TT, JJ, QQ, KK. Like I was saying earlier, it's very hard for me to play against him because he's so passive, calls everything, and then will just shove it all in on the river with very coordinated boards.


Well to keep this simple let's just say we don't have a great read on villain.
We can put a ton of Ax hands in his range but you hold the Ace of hearts AND the Ace of spades is on the board making flushes combos impossible if he holds an Ace. A flush draw is EVEN less likely once he jams the turn. It looks like he's trying to protect a big hand imo.

As played I fold that turn. But check calling, check calling would've been my route.
 
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CupOfSalt

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Well to keep this simple let's just say we don't have a great read on villain.
We can put a ton of Ax hands in his range but you hold the Ace of hearts AND the Ace of spades is on the board making flushes combos impossible if he holds an Ace. A flush draw is EVEN less likely once he jams the turn. It looks like he's trying to protect a big hand imo.

As played I fold that turn. But check calling, check calling would've been my route.

Alright, I see. Definitely should have folded to the shove.

Though, with betting the turn as opposed to check-calling, I think (if I would have folded) I may have saved some money from his jam because then what do you do when the river comes?
 
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Foldemz

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Alright, I see. Definitely should have folded to the shove.

Though, with betting the turn as opposed to check-calling, I think (if I would have folded) I may have saved some money from his jam because then what do you do when the river comes?

I see what you're saying. Yeah, had you still bet the turn and then folded you probably would've saved money rather than check calling 2 streets.

I really don't like that lead out though.
 
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CupOfSalt

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One again screwed with AJ



PokerStars - Hold'em Tournament - $10/20 Blinds - 9 Players
Hand Converter by Pokerhand.org

HARPMAN1950 (MP3): $1,460
cupofsalt (CO): $1,490
lIKaozIl (BTN): $1,520
sayk01 (SB): $1,480
Windwalker26 (BB): $1,610
PushLimit59 (UTG): $1,480
humblepawn (UTG+1): $1,500
pezo11 (MP1): $1,460
BONES-3N8 (MP2): $1,500

Pre-flop: Dealt to cupofsalt J:club: A:club:
(2 folds), pezo11 calls $20, (2 folds), cupofsalt raises to $80, (2 folds), Windwalker26 calls $60, (1 folds)

Flop: ($190) J:heart: 4:heart: 9:club: (2 Players)
Windwalker26 bets $190, cupofsalt calls $190

Turn: ($570) T:spade: (2 Players)
Windwalker26 bets $285, cupofsalt calls $285

River: ($1,140) 4:club: (2 Players)
Windwalker26 bets $570, cupofsalt calls $570
Windwalker26 Showed 9:spade: J:diamond:
cupofsalt Mucks J:club: A:club:
Windwalker26 wins $2,280 with two pair, Jacks and Nines
 
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Karozi615

Karozi615

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AJ in general is a +ev hand if you play it properly. I mean, i'm not going to go into insane specifics but it's not really about that hand as much as it is about other variables. AJ otb in 6max is super +ev, but UTG in FR it's pretty much a snap fold for most tight competent players.

If you can't tangle with good players postflop and make thin decisions then feel free to fold AJ OOP or in full table games. As you get more experience you'll find its just a slightly profitable hand in the long run that is actually very easy to play in position.
 
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canabero

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AJ is a relative good hand but it doesn't mean that you have to make high risk bets, it's a good hand to make some pressure when you are in the bubble, but if a tight player raises, you have to take care
 
bprpm

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AJ its a hand that we want to play and having a short stack we want to put all the money in the pot..
you say AJ is a bad hand that's insane in my opinion, yes sometimes we're DOMINATED but if we play with afraid that we'll dominated we only play AA because is the only hanh that nobody can dominated us..... Flop change the strenght of our hand our the opponent hand, so AJ is a good hand to play it, but remember if the opponent shows strenght we can fold the ace, big fold wins tournaments...
 
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One again screwed with AJ



PokerStars - Hold'em Tournament - $10/20 Blinds - 9 Players
Hand Converter by Pokerhand.org

HARPMAN1950 (MP3): $1,460
cupofsalt (CO): $1,490
lIKaozIl (BTN): $1,520
sayk01 (SB): $1,480
Windwalker26 (BB): $1,610
PushLimit59 (UTG): $1,480
humblepawn (UTG+1): $1,500
pezo11 (MP1): $1,460
BONES-3N8 (MP2): $1,500

Pre-flop: Dealt to cupofsalt J<font color='black'>♣</font> A<font color='black'>♣</font>
(2 folds), pezo11 calls $20, (2 folds), cupofsalt raises to $80, (2 folds), Windwalker26 calls $60, (1 folds)

Flop: ($190) J<font color='red'>♥</font> 4<font color='red'>♥</font> 9<font color='black'>♣</font> (2 Players)
Windwalker26 bets $190, cupofsalt calls $190

Turn: ($570) T<font color='black'>♠</font> (2 Players)
Windwalker26 bets $285, cupofsalt calls $285

River: ($1,140) 4<font color='black'>♣</font> (2 Players)
Windwalker26 bets $570, cupofsalt calls $570
Windwalker26 Showed 9<font color='black'>♠</font> J<font color='red'>♦</font>
cupofsalt Mucks J<font color='black'>♣</font> A<font color='black'>♣</font>
Windwalker26 wins $2,280 with two pair, Jacks and Nines

Those are some pretty hefty bet sizes to ignore, my man.
Villain donk-leads a pot sized bet, You might still be good.
Then Villain fires another 3/4 size bet, You better reconsider.
Then Villain fires 570 on the river. I would not think I was good here at all.

Just because you have top pair top kicker doesn't mean it's good. That was a pretty ideal flop for you. But every move your opponent makes will mean something. Whether it's donk-leading, check-calling, raising, bet sizing, snap-calling, all-ins, whatever the case my be. Every move means something!

You have to really train yourself to get away from these spots.

Remember this is why we like to play in position. You likely would've had your initial flop bet raised. Here you can minimize your losses because he's being very aggressive. You can tell he might be trying to protect a strong hand like trips or 2 pair against a flush or a straight. (If he had the draw he is much more likely to check-call)

Then he goes for a decent value bet on the river.
 
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CallmeFloppy

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Got to agree with Snappy. Its important to reassess where you are after every card and every decision at the table. Why are they doing that? What does it mean? What are they trying to accomplish? Where am I at now? The more you evaluate all this on each phase the easier it will be to identify which hands to get away from, which to press and which to try to draw some value from.
 
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CupOfSalt

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Got to agree with Snappy. Its important to reassess where you are after every card and every decision at the table. Why are they doing that? What does it mean? What are they trying to accomplish? Where am I at now? The more you evaluate all this on each phase the easier it will be to identify which hands to get away from, which to press and which to try to draw some value from.

I think the basic lesson here is that I overplay AJ
 
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BullWink

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AJ is a very good hand, but you do have to be cautious when playing it. You have to be willing to fold if you get a lot of action against it. It is a good hand, as it will be ahead of most hands held by SB or BB.
 
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