AJ vs 98s: Odds & Interactive Calculator
| Hand | Win | Tie | Equity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AJ (Ace-Jack) | 59.6% | 0.4% | 59.8% |
| 98s (Nine-Eight Suited) | 39.9% | 0.4% | 40.2% |
Suited vs offsuit: AJ
| Matchup | Win | Tie | Equity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AJs | 61.5% | 0.5% | 61.7% |
| AJo | 59.0% | 0.4% | 59.2% |
How AJ vs 98s unfolds by street
Ace-Jack (AJ) is still ahead on 71% of flops against 98s, and the lead survives to the turn on 66%. 98s takes the lead on the other 29% of flops. These figures come from full board enumeration, not a simulation.
| Street | AJ still ahead | 98s flipped the lead |
|---|---|---|
| Flop | 71% | 29% |
| Turn | 66% | 34% |
Two unpaired hands with all four ranks live: AJ vs 98s. AJ wins 59.6%, 98s wins 39.9%, and 0.4% of boards chop. The favorite isn't running away with it — 39.9% of the time 98s pairs up first or backs into the better runout — but higher cards making higher pairs is enough to keep AJ in front.
Here's the intuition behind 59.8% to 40.2%: AJ wins roughly 1 of every 2 times the chips go in, but the underdog cashing 40.2% of the time is exactly why you can't slow-play and let it draw for free.
How you play AJ vs 98s depends on which side you hold. With AJ you're not crushing, so keep the pot controllable and take the 59.6% edge to showdown when you can; with 98s, your equity is enough to continue with initiative but thin enough that bloating the pot out of position is a trap.
Where to take AJ vs 98s next
Getting it in near the money bubble or at a final table? Chip equity isn't prize equity — check the spot in the ICM calculator before you call off your stack.
Played a hand like this yourself? Import it into the poker hand analyzer for a street-by-street review of every decision, not just the all-in.
For the bigger picture, the poker tournament strategy guide covers when to shove and when to fold as stacks shrink, and what GTO poker is explains why strong players think in ranges rather than single hands.
New to the game? The poker hand rankings chart shows which hand wins at showdown, how to play poker: a beginner's guide walks through the rules and betting rounds, and the poker strategy guide shows where preflop equity fits into a winning game plan.
AJ vs 98s FAQ
Who wins AJ vs 98s preflop?
AJ (Ace-Jack) is the favorite, winning 59.6% of all runouts, while 98s (Nine-Eight Suited) wins 39.9%. The remaining 0.4% are split pots. Counting splits as half, AJ's preflop equity is 59.8%.
Does the AJ vs 98s probability change all-in preflop?
No. Once both hands are all-in preflop the odds are set by the cards alone — position, stack size and who bet first change nothing. The only thing that moves the number is suits: AJ's equity runs from 58.5% to 64.0% depending on suitedness and which suits the two hands share, which is why different sites quote slightly different figures. It does change once board cards are dealt (AJ leads on 71% of flops) and in multiway pots, where every extra caller takes equity from both hands.
Is AJ vs 98s a good spot to get all-in?
For AJ, yes — a 59.8% favorite should happily commit, especially with fold equity. For 98s at 40.2%, it depends on the price: enough to continue with initiative, but thin enough that stacking off out of position is usually a leak.
Does AJ hold up against 98s after the flop?
AJ is still ahead on 71% of flops and stays ahead through the turn on 66% of boards; 98s takes the lead on the other 29% of flops. These are exact figures from full board enumeration.
Run any matchup in the free equity calculator · AK VS QJ · AK VS QT · AQ VS KJ · AQ VS KT · AQ VS JT · AJ VS KQ
AJ against a range
All-in against one known hand is the textbook case; at the table AJ is usually up against a range. Exact equities, computed over every combo with card removal applied:
- AJ vs calling station — 61.1% against 670 combos (50.5% of hands)
- AJ vs BTN open — 60.2% against 586 combos (44.2% of hands)
- AJ vs CO open — 56.6% against 366 combos (27.6% of hands)
- AJ vs 10bb shove — 56.3% against 334 combos (25.2% of hands)