Quick answer
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AJs by the numbers
- vs 1 random hand
- 65.4%
- all-in equity
- vs 5 random hands
- 27.7%
- full 6-max table
- Flop a pair or better
- 32.4%
- pairing a hole card
- Flop a flush draw
- 10.9%
- flush 0.84%
How to play AJs by position
6-max cash game, around 100 big blinds deep.
- Early position (UTG)
- Open-raise. It is a standard opening hand from every 6-max seat.
- Middle position (hijack)
- Open-raise. Against an early open, calling is reasonable.
- Late position (cutoff, button)
- Open-raise, and 3-bet against wide opens.
- Blinds
- Raise when folded to; 3-bet against late-position opens.
- Facing a raise
- Call or 3-bet against single opens depending on position. Against a 3-bet, calling in position can work; against a 4-bet, fold.
After the flop
- Suited hands flop a flush draw about 10.9% of the time, and a nut flush draw with an ace is valuable.
- Top pair with a jack kicker is fine against wide ranges but often second-best against tight ones.
- Use your ace-high backdoor draws to apply pressure when you miss the flop.
AJs against common hands
Ace-jack suited wins 28.4% against AKo, with ties 4.4% of the time, because the king kicker dominates. It wins 58% against KQs and 45.8% against TT.
| Against | AJs wins | Tie | AJs loses |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-K offsuit | 28.4% | 4.4% | 67.2% |
| K-Q suited | 58% | 0.5% | 41.5% |
| 10-10 | 45.8% | 0.4% | 53.8% |
All-in before the flop, exact results from every possible board. Suits as dealt in our example; figures shift slightly with other suit combinations.
What AJs makes by the river
If you see all five board cards, your best five-card hand ends up as each of these this often. Exact figures from every possible board.
- Straight flush0.06%
- Four of a kind0.1%
- Full house2.2%
- Flush6.5%
- Straight3.8%
- Three of a kind4.3%
- Two pair22.1%
- One pair43.0%
- High card17.8%
Common mistakes with AJs
- Stacking off with one pair against a tight player.
- Calling 4-bets.
- Playing too passively when you flop a nut flush draw.
Where AJs sits in the chart
Suited hands above the diagonal, offsuit below, pairs on it. Number = equity against one random hand. A white dot means the hand has a full guide.
Ace-jack suited FAQ
Is AJs a strong hand?
Yes. It plays well in position, makes strong top pairs and nut flush draws, and can 3-bet against wide openers.
Should I fold AJs to a 3-bet?
Not always. In position, calling is often fine; out of position, folding or 4-betting depends on the opponent.
How do I play AJs with a short stack in a tournament?
With 15bb or less, push from every position when folded to you.