how to play this hand

I just played this hand

got AJ no flush
raised
a few called (play money - people tend to call everything)

on the flop
J8Q rainbow

the guy on the left raised and I folded due to the Q

people called and so forth and on
the turn (no flushes involved)
3

he raised and someone called but since I was out of the game dont really matters...

The river turned up
J

He who raised won with
Q6

so I guessed correctly that he had the Q

the thing is - I wouldve won if I just had stuck with it

did I make the right call to fold on the flop ?
What were the odds of me getting a A or J ?

EDIT:
just so you knwo - I am a complete newbie

Your fold was right.

You have the worst hand and didn't put any money in. Pay no mind to what might have happened.

The goal is not to chase but have your opponents chase. Everytime you call and chase with the second best hand, you're losing in the long run. Everytime you get someone to chase with a second best hand, you're winning in the long run.

-'rilla

Thank you - that was what I thought but wasnt completely confident.

Good fold. He had you beat when he put the pressure on you and you folded when you were losing.

To put poker in its simplest terms and explain the most simplistic strategy, fold when you're losing and bet when you're winning. THe trick is to know when you're losing or winning

Good luck, buddy.

You were questioning your fold because your hand would-have improved?

Lose the coulda-woulda syndrome

odds of catching an a or a j were 10% per card btw.

Yea, any time you have a few callers in a raised pot, and you only make middle pair on the flop, it is probably time to get out. You did the right move.

Get your money in the pot when you have the best hand and protect when you don't. Good call.