Raising AJo UTG

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Abdul Jalib used it to determine the best starting hands from each position in a typical game. AJo is a fold UTG.

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I'm curious about the simulation conditions he used to come to this conclusion.

Folding is too tight for a "typical game." In the real world, AJo is a winning hand from all positions even for average (losing) players. See the PokerRoom EV Stats.

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I don't get it. All I ever hear is people talking about getting their AA beat in online play - yet this chart is telling me that it is the best possible hand to hold.

How is this possible?





But seriously - thank you for that link - that is a great resource to have.

[uuDevil]

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I don't get it. All I ever hear is people talking about getting their AA beat in online play - yet this chart is telling me that it is the best possible hand to hold.

How is this possible?

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Oh, it's possible. But the variance is huge. [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

[BillsChips]

This seems a bit strange. I've been using TTH for about a year now and the advisor always says call UTG with AQo. Raise with AQo in any position after that if no one else has raised. I have never seen it recommend raising with AJo except in mid-late position with nobody voluntarily in the pot.

[BarronVangorToth]

If everyone would open their hymnals (aka Small Stakes Hold 'em) to page 82... [Or, if by some randomness you find yourself on a "tight" table, page 80...]

Barron Vangor Toth
BarronVangorToth.com

[BillsChips]

I just duplicated your experiment and the advisor says to call. I'm using TTH version 5.

[ianlippert]

I have version 6 so mabey its been changed. Seems like the cutoff for offsuit ace UTG is ATo. ATo fold, AJo raise.

[RikaKazak]

I fold AJo in early full ring, I also fold KQo, suited I call with both.

[Dazarath]

As Barron pointed out, AJo is a raise UTG according to SSHE. If that's not convincing enough, I don't think a program simulating poker should be either. There are plenty of people who can show PT stats proving that raising AJo UTG is +EV. In my opinion, calling AJo UTG may be worse than folding (or close). I don't want to get in situations where I limp, someone raises, and I have to check/fold because I missed the flop. I'd rather be the aggressor. Also, limping allows other people to limp in behind. Playing a 5-way pot with AJo, for 1 bet, OOP is not my idea of a good situation to be in. Another note: the people in the mid-high stakes forum will chew you out if you say that AJo should be folded UTG.

[NYCNative]

I will raise it up or call, but I rarely fold it.

If called I won't get married to an Ace on the flop. I prefer getting a Jack unless I am reraised since the reraise can mean KK, QQ or even JJ although I won't get married to that Ace with a lot of resistance after the flop.

Here's how I played it a few weeks ago in a home tournament:

Blinds are at 50/100. I raise with AJ to 300. Folded to the button who minraises me. Folded around and I call.

The flop comes a Jack-high rainbow, either a great flop or a crappy one. Given that I want to figure out where I stand right now, I check and when villain bets, I check-raise him. If he went over the top I get away there.

I watched villain the whole time and although he called he didn't seem happy. So when another blank hit, I led the turn. Villain folded showing AK.

Sometimes I'll check the turn there and go into check-call or check-fold depending on the size of the bets and my feel for villain. Either way, I have to fold it if I get a lot of heat especially if a scare card hits.

Theoretically, villain will play a big pair differently than AK or AQ that misses. This is read-dependent of course.

The keys to playing any of the danger hands out of position - raise or not - is a good read on villain and the ability to lay down top pair.

I think you can play any two cards out of position if you know how to play post-flop and know your opponents.

[BarronVangorToth]

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AJo is a raise UTG according to SSHE. If that's not convincing enough, I don't think a program simulating poker should be either.

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This is important, as SSH wins the Pepsi Challenge any day of the week against Random Software X.

I'm all for people using whatever tools are out there in order to better their game, but if something directly contradicts SSH, you are doing FAR more harm than good to your game.

Even if you get some semblance of "good practice" out of said software, the contradictory (read: wrong) advice is still more harmful than any positive from it.

I've played in dozens of live casinos over the last few years, and I haven't found one game at the $10-$20 or lower level where the situation wasn't correct to raise UTG AJo, given the table texture.

Barron Vangor Toth
BarronVangorToth.com