Ajax
In poker, "Ajax" is a slang term used to refer to the starting hand of Ace and Jack in Texas Hold'em. It's named after the Ajax Football Club, a popular soccer team based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
What Does "Ajax" Mean in Poker?
In the context of poker, specifically Texas Hold'em, "Ajax" is a nickname for the starting hand of Ace and Jack (A-J). The term is a play on the name of the Ajax Football Club, with the Ace (A) corresponding to the first letter in Ajax and the Jack (J) corresponding to the first letter in Jack.
While it's not considered a premium hand like AA, KK, QQ, or JJ, an Ace-Jack hand is still relatively strong and can be playable in many situations, especially in late position or if the game is short-handed. That being said, holding Ajax when aggression is showed by opponents could get tricky. Assuming they're strong, they are most likely to have a pocket pair or a strong Ace. Either of these situations means at best you're flipping, while at worst you're completely dominated by hands like AA, AK or AQ.
Example of "Ajax"
For instance, a player might be dealt an "Ajax" hand and decide to raise pre-flop from a late position.
In another scenario, a player might be dealt "Ajax" and decide to fold if there's a lot of action before them, indicating that other players might have stronger hands.
- "I was dealt Ajax in the cutoff position and decided to raise."
- "He got Ajax on the button and called the small blind's raise."
- "She folded her Ajax hand after the player before her went all-in."
Should I always play an Ajax hand?
Whether or not to play an Ajax hand depends on various factors including your position, the betting action before you, and the number of players in the game. While Ajax is a relatively strong hand, it can be beaten by any of the premium hands, so it's important to play it carefully.
What are the odds of being dealt Ajax?
In Texas Hold'em, the odds of being dealt any specific hand, including Ajax, are 1 in 221, or approximately 0.45%.
Are there other names for an Ace-Jack hand in poker?
Yes, an Ace-Jack hand can also be referred to as "Blackjack" (a reference to the card game where the goal is to reach 21 points, and an Ace and a Jack are the best possible cards) or "Apple Jacks" (a play on the cereal brand).
