AA vs AJ: Preflop Equity & Odds
| Hand | Win | Tie | Equity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AA (Pocket Aces) | 90.4% | 1.3% | 91.0% |
| AJ (Ace-Jack) | 8.4% | 1.3% | 9.0% |
Suited vs offsuit: AJ
| Matchup | Win | Tie | Equity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AJs | 12.3% | 1.2% | 12.9% |
| AJo | 7.1% | 1.3% | 7.7% |
How AA vs AJ unfolds by street
Pocket Aces (AA) is still ahead on 99% of flops against AJ, and the lead survives to the turn on 96%. AJ takes the lead on the other 1% of flops, almost always by flopping a set. These figures come from full board enumeration, not a simulation.
| Street | AA still ahead | AJ flipped the lead |
|---|---|---|
| Flop | 99% | 1% |
| Turn | 96% | 4% |
AA vs AJ mixes a pair with an overlapping overcard, so an out on each side is already in someone's hand. AA wins 90.4%, AJ wins 8.4%, and 1.3% of boards chop. That blocking effect is why AA is a firmer 10.8-to-1 favorite than a straight pair-vs-two-overcards race.
Here's the intuition behind 91.0% to 9.0%: AA wins roughly 10 of every 11 times the chips go in, but the underdog cashing 9.0% of the time is exactly why you can't slow-play and let it draw for free.
How you play AA vs AJ depends on which side you hold. With AA you're not crushing, so keep the pot controllable and take the 90.4% edge to showdown when you can; with AJ, your equity is enough to continue with initiative but thin enough that bloating the pot out of position is a trap.
AA vs AJ FAQ
Who wins AA vs AJ preflop?
AA (Pocket Aces) is the favorite, winning 90.4% of all runouts, while AJ (Ace-Jack) wins 8.4%. The remaining 1.3% are split pots. Counting splits as half, AA's preflop equity is 91.0%.
How often does AJ beat AA?
AJ wins 8.4% of the time all-in preflop against AA — roughly 1 in 12 — so it needs good pot odds or fold equity to get the money in profitably.
Is AA vs AJ a good spot to get all-in?
For AA, yes — a 91.0% favorite should happily commit, especially with fold equity. For AJ at 9.0%, it depends on the price: enough to continue with initiative, but thin enough that stacking off out of position is usually a leak.
Does AA hold up against AJ after the flop?
AA is still ahead on 99% of flops and stays ahead through the turn on 96% of boards; AJ takes the lead on the other 1% of flops. These are exact figures from full board enumeration.
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