This isn’t a hand that most professionals would get too excited about, but in online play I see a lot of players calling all in bets preflop with it, and getting themselves in trouble at Ladbrokespoker.com.
I think to the undisciplined player (A,J) is a strong enough hand to call anybody with, and I agree that it has some strength. But that strength disappears when an opponent re raises all in. I mean what could I call an expect my opponent to turn over? (A,9)or (K,J)? Unlikely.
Although this can depend on what sort of level players you are up against and whether it is the early stages of a re buy tournament or not.
My first thoughts on looking down at (A,J) in the hole at www.ladbrokespoker.com are usually ‘oh dear, I hope I don’t get dragged into a online poker pot with this’ and I won’t be happy on the flop unless I make either top two pair, a set, or top pair and top kicker with Jacks.
Even if an ace falls on the flop at Ladbrokes poker I can’t be sure my Jack kicker is good.
In high level professional play, players often feel the same about (A,Q).
Being much more disciplined than the average player at Ladbrokes pocker, they do not want to be putting themselves in a position of having all their chips in the middle againt (A,K) which would be disastrous.
It is alright to play (A,J) in my opinion, it’s just that when an ace comes on the flop and players start re raising you, it’s putting you in a very difficult position. Some inexperienced players at ladbrokespoker might even struggle to fold if they make second pair with Jacks, but the point is that you can easily end up getting yourself into big trouble with (A,J) and sometimes (A,Q) too.
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