AJs from UTG

Hector01

How should AJs should be played from UTG, if its even smart to play it from UTG.
What do you guys think?

Dub13

depends on loads of things...stage of tournament,prize fund,chip stacks,table image,other players at the table etc etc.

There is no answer as such.

ocallagh

Not a great hand imo. Most playes will put you on a hand in that range, which gives them a huge advantage. There is a good chance someone will pick up a premium hand behind you. You have no info on the hands you are up against, especially if you limp. You are out of position, unless it's folded to the blinds.

If you're going to play it, you should at least put in a small raise but I don't like it. I generally fold this hand. You'll win a small one or lose a big one with this hand..

PPP-Pit Boss

I tend to limp on a good hand UTG. AJ I would probably limp it is premium hand and you want to get your moneys worth. Limp then call a small re-raise but consider very carefully the very large re-raise calling can be death to the nefarious AJ.

NickyOD

Its far from premium in a full handed game. If I play it I will most likely make a 4BB raise from EP but only if the table is playing weak tight. Otherwise I would prefer to fold. In the early levels whent he blinds are small I might decide to limp in but fold it to a strong raise. It's not much of a hand postflop in a raised pot out of position.

The Snapper

These marginal type hands imho are what seperate the really good players from the average "cant put it down pre or post flop sorts".

Problem being when you hit the ace and are out kicked its a hard one to let go and at best will cost a fair sized bet to discern were your at in the hand.

O'callagh has it spot on, its a win small lose big type hand.

PPP-Pit Boss

I quote for back up:
RANK: 20/169
It is always nice to look down at an ace regardless of kicker, but with no flush draw and higher kickers out there, you should avoid raising from early position.

Culchie

That is from Betfair PPP, I would have thought you wouldn't take any heed of that advice

AJ ... UTG .... Muck, you just know it makes sense.

MadsL

It is always nice to look down at an ace regardless of kicker

:eek: :eek: :eek:

PPP-Pit Boss

lol no way I wouldnt muck it unless I was re-raised big. I mean if AJ is a "marginal" hand then what the hell? If we all sat around waiting for rockets cowboys and pocket pairs we would be blinded out in no time. It always makes me uncomfortable being UTG but I dont particular begrudge it with AJ

Culchie

T'is like watching Sonia O'Sullivan in slow motion AJ UTG, not a pretty sight. :eek:

Muck them, it's a big dirty trouble maker of a hand UTG.

califano

Culchie wrote:

T'is like watching Sonia O'Sullivan in slow motion AJ UTG, not a pretty sight. :eek:

Muck them, it's a big dirty trouble maker of a hand UTG.

lol imaginative metaphor. "ah crap i had to fold the sonia there"

so perhaps A10 UTG could be paula radcliffe in slow motion?.

NickyOD

PPP-Pit Boss wrote:

lol no way I wouldnt muck it unless I was re-raised big. I mean if AJ is a "marginal" hand then what the hell? If we all sat around waiting for rockets cowboys and pocket pairs we would be blinded out in no time. It always makes me uncomfortable being UTG but I dont particular begrudge it with AJ

Its only marginal when played out of position in a pot that has been raised by someone else. If I open with it I'll usually raise to beat out other hands and take advantage of my position over the blinds. I don't think limping wrong either though. I just don't want to give away my holding almost never open limp. If I only limp with certain hands and raise with others then its easy to put me on something marginal. If I always open with a standard raise you can't put me on anything.

Imposter

If you come across it playing a tournament on Tribeca it's an all-in hand as you'll be blinded out before long if you don't (That goes for the first hand too ).

As Dub13 said though it depends on a lot of factors but I don't believe most of you would fold it in most situations.

Ste05

If I'm new to a table or don't have any good notes/ reads on the players then I muck it UTG too, at best you win the blinds with a raise, if you're called or re-raised you're normally in trouble. Then on the flop you're out of position, not really knowing where you stand, and are forced to make a continuation bet to try and find out, basically putting yourself in trouble that could have been avoided.

If I've been at the table a while and have good notes and reads on the other players then there could be a case for playing with it, but you'd need to be sure of your table image and what sort of player you're eventually up against.

Basically in general and UTG it's a hand you'll either win a small pot or lose a big one. TBH I'd rather raise UTG with 89s then this, at least then you'll know pretty much exactly where you are after the flop.

Now, in a later position I don't mind AJ at all and at that stage the premiumness (is that a word??) of the hand comes into play.

Culchie

Imposter wrote:

If you come across it playing a tournament on Tribeca it's an all-in hand as you'll be blinded out before long if you don't (That goes for the first hand too ).

As Dub13 said though it depends on a lot of factors but I don't believe most of you would fold it in most situations.

It maybe that I have been badly scolded by AJ, I hate the hand, I've been knocked out of as many tourneys with this hand you wouldn't believe.

Would you believe that since I started folding it UTG, I don't get knocked out anymore on this hand?

Maybe I'm playing too tight, but I hate the hand, It's trouble UTG

Ste05

Culchie wrote:

Would you believe that since I started folding it UTG, I don't get knocked out anymore on this hand?

Great line - LMAO,

I hate it too, and my advice could also be biased in that way too, but I think my reasoning is OK

Shortstack

Technically AJ is 20/169 of all the hands you could be dealt, so why not play it UTG? Easy, there are 19 other better hands and you have 8/9 players to act after you there is a good chance one of them has one of them. Any hand you play in the first 3 positions of a full table should be able to stand a raise, AJ is not a hand to call a raise with out of position. Hands 1-8 only (top 5%) should be played from this position IMHO, unless you are confident enough that you can outplay your opponents post flop.

From mid - late position it is not a bad hand but I would much prefer to win with a raise than to limp and play a flop.

If playing player X in the Fitz then this is the best possible hand you could hold whatever the position you have on him, just hint you have it and the pot will be yours

MrPillowTalk

PPP-Pit Boss wrote:

I tend to limp on a good hand UTG. AJ I would probably limp it is premium hand and you want to get your moneys worth. Limp then call a small re-raise but consider very carefully the very large re-raise calling can be death to the nefarious AJ.

Thats gas, I allways wondered where they found players like this but now they are working for the sites as well. Limp call AJ utg lol, get that man in my cash game.

Cianos

AJ is a hand comparable to JJ - its very easy to misplay and get yourself in a lot of trouble.