Tell Me about IT! Question 1

[GypsyTea]

How many people UTG in a Tournament NO limit Holdem Game would raise 4xBB AJo ?

GT

[jacks_off4me]

Hi

i dont play AJo UTG in tournaments. at the beginning i dont play it at-all. if its a mid stage and im sitting on a decent stack i might get in with e'm but yes only with a raise. in later satages same. limpimg is not a good option IMO.

lets go over what we have here... we have an ace and a jack not at same suit. if an ace falls, you cant ba sure your ahead with the kicker from the other hand you cant slowplay you ace.
you also wouldnt know where you stand if there was a raise and the flop didnt connect you at all..

if there are two pictures on the flop or a picture and 10, you will probably lose some chips by chasing the straight there.
+the limp move from UTG is screaming "i have an ace with something".

it's called a trouble hand for a reason. i dont play it anymore because it usually got me to one of those trouble decisions i dont wanna face with ace jack off suit.

Cheers

[stinkee]

I dunno- it depends on a lot of factors. I would raise if I've got a good "feel" for the table and everyone seems to be playing tight, but not if there are a few crazy types at the table. Especially if it's not a full table - then I'd be more inclined to raise preflop. But if it's the beginning of the tourney, or there are some crazy players on the table I'd probably just call (as long as the blinds aren't outrageous) and see what develops.

[scrawnybob]

hi

well without wanting to wheel it out too often for me its that "depends" again ;-)

if the question is would I automatically raise 4xBB with AJ off ... the simple answer is no

for the specific question of AJ off under the gun - I would fairly routinely call the BB ... whilst hands like AJ, KQ, 10Q, J 10 etc potential very problematic hands they are equally good hands for creating danger for other players with PP's etc

so I personally quite like to run the gauntlet with these sorts of hands if I can either see the flop cheap (thats a bit unpredicatable in early position) but IMHO if not done automatically everytime shouldnt be ruled out either

in late position I certainly want to see the flop and if it hasnt been raised there is a 1in2 chance I'd raise up 2xBB (or maybe more like 4xBB the odd time) just to put people on their toes - or narrow the field a bit and represent a stronger hand (I am a big fan of the semi bluff)

IMHO problem hands all come down to how well you know yourself at dealing with problem hands when they have definately become ... a problem

In that sense it's easier and safer to have very tight starting hand requirements - but that in itself doesnt assure trouble free poker ... in some players it puts a mindset of having strong hands that are unbeatable ... and there really isnt such a thing unless the board and hand give you the nuts.

So I guess I like to play these trouble hands if possible in the right circumstances - If you spot certain players who for example will totally stick with a pp even it the board is showing 3 or 4 to a flush / 3 or 4 to a straight then I want to be in those pots where IF I hit I know the implied value is massive (thats not to say you can or should do it everytime)

cheers scrawnybob

[GypsyTea]

There is a typo in the poll question should read I would Raise ( not I you ???)dont know what happened there but anyway...

I got to say I am not a lover of AJo in any position, and Like Bob says it depends, and it depends on if its cash or a tournament, how many chips I have, what my "M" is, and how near the bubble I am.

So basically in Cash I will not play it I would Fold, In a tournament where I have a HIGH "M" I would re-raise between 4 and 10 times the BB

In a tournament where I have an low "M" ie any thing OTHER than a Green "M" I call the blinds, and try and peel a cheep flop.

Its a 5 to 1 shot so My M is critical for me to make the play.

AJs is a whole diffrent kettle of fish, Now I seem to remember Roy "the Boy" Brindley saying it dosnt matter if its suited or not, Sorry I disagree.

Anyway a muzzing over coffee on the rial

GT

[GObILLIARDS]

Not Near Enough Info To Answer This. Stack Size, Blind Levels Ability Levels Of Opponents, Number Of Players At The Table, And Your Fold Equity Is Just A Few Of The Important Missing Elements.

[RMakin]

All though there are a lot of factors that can play into this, generally as a rule of thumb I would raise on this hand. There is a lot of potential and with a proper raise (depending on blind levels) then you can put yourself into the position to force players with hands that might be a little stronger (i.e. suited face cards/connectors) to completely re-evaluate whether or not this is worth playing.

[ennotserp]

If you know there are loose aggressive players behind you, folding may be the correct move because AJ cannot stand a raise.
With other players I might limp, but don't think I would raise from this position (maybe in late).
This is my personal preference - many would probably disagree.

[PokerJonny]

If we are talking early stages of a MTT (reasonably large buy in) against skilled players then I would probably fold it.

UTG its just a hand thats asking for trouble - from AK, AQ especially.

I might call in a 10 player STT or a low buy in MTT (where weaker players might pay me off).

Maybe in a short handed MTT or STT I would raise.


This hand (along with weaker aces) is where alot of poorer players lose there stacks in early stags of tournaments - if like me you find top pair hard to let go of then you should should be folding this hand pre flop UTG to save yourself difficult decisions after the flop.

[wixx]

I would call because I still have that little bit of donk left in me
I know that AJo is hard to play and if I call UTG and someone else raises, then I am really in a quandary...but I am being honest I would call every time, unless late in tourney or I am big stack then I raise.