PowerFul Hand Series #5 – Toss AJ preflop….no really
I know a lot of poker players who think I’m nuts. Tossing an ace with a strong(ish) kicker like a jack seems crazy. But, in a lot of situations, it’s the right move. (Note: There are situations where it’s the wrong move…late in a tourney, heads up, short stacked etc…but these are all situations where you would be making a move and either pushing, putting a LOT of pressure, or there are so few cards out there that any ace is a strong ace!)
Ahem…let’s look at the reality of AJ in a regular 8-10 handed table. You play your AJ in mid position and you flop an ace. There is a huge chance that you could be dominated by AK or AQ. In this situation you would just be throwing money into a pot that you are very unlikely to pull out a win. Lets say you pair your jack. You could also get demolished by AA or JJ, and you would essentially be drawing dead after the flop.
My favourite reason for dismissing AJ out of hand is this: I LOVE a good draw. And drawing to the top straight is always fun, especially when it hits. But, AJ is a hand that if you flop a draw it is almost certainly a gutshot. Chasing a turn and a river for one card (even if it’s a 4 outer) is not winning poker, and should really be avoided.
More often than not if you play AJ you are making decisions about what to do with top pair and an okay kicker, or weather or not the pot is giving you the odds to see one more card to hit yourmiracle straight.
Playing AJ is a classic formula for winning a small pot and losing a big one. Be careful with it!
