So, this is my first post here and I just thought I'd share my absolute amazement that JJ can hold up sometimes.

Yesterday I was in a live $35MTT and got JJ twice. Both times I had position and a good chip stack. Ended up raising 2 people all in preflop. Once they had AKo and the other time AQo and neither of them improved.

Usually when I get JJ I just CRINGE. But I think the only reason I played them as I did is because I was in good position and the cards had been falling my way.

Would you guys normally raise big w/ 2 limpers before you and JJ?

Here is what I can remember specifically about the 2 hands:

1. I had about 8000 chips and the starting stack was 4000. Both limpers had about 2000 or 3000 chips and the blinds were 200-400 i THINK. When it got around to me I think I raised to 2000 because I either wanted the blinds or to isolate the smaller stack. One guy ends up just pushing and I call, then the person on the button calls too (Putting them both all in). Guy behind me had 22 and said something like "Whenever I fold this... it always hits" right before he calls. The other guy had AKo and neither of them improve... i get a healthy chip lead after that.

2. I have about 12K in chips and the blinds are either 500/1000 or 1000/2000 I can't remember. I was the BB and everyone folds all the around to the SB next to me. She mini-raises 2x the bb. She was kind of a loud mouth and liked to talk. Also there was a misdeal the hand RIGHT before it and she had shown KT and someone else had QQ. Her response to the other guy saying "Every time there is a misdeal I have a premium hand!" was "It's ok, I would have called and sucked out anyways". So after she mini raises I ask her how much she has left. She looks kind of surprised and starts counting... At that point I put her on another mediocre hand and just push as she is counting. She reluctantly calls w/ AQo. She had about 8K more which left me w/ 2500 after the all in. Flop comes T K K. I get a little nervous until one guys says "I folded a jack" which makes me more relaxed... but it really pissed of the girl and she kept saying "damnit... a jack isn't coming... a jack isn't coming"

After that hand I had about 20K in chips and a great lead... which in the next few hands of trying to steal the blinds I get caught and short stacked just as fast. I made it to the final table but didn't cash. Was dissapointed in myself for loosening up. I'll know better for next time.

right, I completely agree... It was a weird situation though, I really felt like the cards were falling my way the whole tourney up till then and I hadn't made a bad call/ fold yet. So I was really trusting my instincts at that point. And my opponent's showed a lot of weakness.

Originally Posted by KRE8R

The thing with Jacks is they are very very overrated. People think they look better than they are. They are a good solid hand but you have to be able to throw them away when the time is right. I think people have a hard time throwing Jacks out if they have raised preflop with them and the flop comes with an A, K, or Q and people dont seem to want to fold. You just have to remember that they are a hand that is still very beatable and throw them away as you would any other hand that is obviously beat.

Welcome to the forum JBlade00!

It's not just JJ that people dont want to throw away. I find people constantly play any pocket pair like it's the nuts and bet all in after the flop with crap like 44 even with three face cards showing.

Pockets can be great pre flop but they definitely arent something you should be too attached to. Like KRE8R said, bet for value pre flop but be prepared to throw them away when the overcards appear and someone else bets into you.

I hate pocket Jacks, because they tease you. Whenever I get Jacks, I am reminded of blue balls.