AJ with A on the flop

[Ralle]

Low-limit pot-limit game:

Blinds are $0.50/1. I call with AJo in middle position. Two
more callers, then the button raises pot to $6.50. He likes
to raise the pot preflop. The blinds and one of the limpers
fold.

Three-handed, I'm under the gun. Pot is $22, the button has
$33 and I and the other caller have about $170. The flop
comes Axx. It's checked to the button who bets $10. I raise
pot, the second caller folds and the button calls all-in.

No J on turn or river and the button wins with AK.

Was this a bad play on my part?

[ohkanada]

In one line you say you are in middle position and in the other you say you are UTG.

AJ is one of those trouble hands. I would open-raise or fold with it. I would fold to the raise although you say he has a habit of raising the pot pre-flop. Has he been showing good hands?

On the flop does the 1/2 pot bet imply anything for this player? It seems strange since he only has $33 left. If the button has a similar stack of yours I would be very worried about my stack since AQ and AK are possible holdings. With the button only having $23 left after the flop bet, I don't think re-raising is all bad assuming you can get away if the other player calls or re-raises you.

Would have been easier to muck to the pre-flop raise!

Ken Poklitar

[thebroker]

The limp with AJo is correct. However with the button only having $33 after his raise, you should've folded your hand to the raise. AJ is not a hand you want play a big pot with, unless of couse you flop a straight or a flush.

[John Ho]

Don't even play AJ in pot or no limit. Unless you are the first one in and have late position. Even then, you don't really like your hand that much if an ace flops.

[The _Grifter]

I would have limped and mucked on the raise. A,J is not the best holding in this situation in my opinion. Very easy to put one of the players on A,K or A,Q here.

[limon]

...pot limit every day at every limit with lotsa dudes who dont know what they're doing. simple question: why would you ever limp in from any position w/ AJo? what do you hope to accomplish? a good exorcize is to ask yourself the latter question before every bet.

[John Ho]

Yeah, but why limp and then fold to a raise? If you are not confident enough in your kicker to take action then it's a no brainer to fold it right away.

We are assuming of course you do not put your opponent on 2 pair or a set.

[Ralle]

I'm glad if I can amuse you by demonstrating less than
expert skills.

What you could hope for with AJ? Pair of jacks would be
really nice, I think. And then of course the off chance of
making two pair or nut straight. To me it seems worth
limping with.

[thebroker]

Limping YES................calling the raise NO!

[J_V]

What do you hope to accomplish by limping with AJo?

Well, getting in the pot of course. Can't win if you're not in.

Stop asking easy questions limon.