Pocket Jacks - JJ Preflop When I raise with pocket jacks I always seem to get called, and an ace, king or queen comes on the flop. Then I don’t know what to do.

If I limp, someone usually raises from a later position, and I have to call a raise where I feel I am probably behind.

Or I have to lay the jacks down.

Do you have any recommendations?

A: Pocket jacks are a challenging hand to play profitably in no limit holdem. I lost money overall with them for a long time, but have been able to play them profitably over the last year.

There are three ways to play a hand from early position. You can

fold
call
raise

Folding Pocket Jacks

Pocket jacks are the fifth best starting hand in Texas holdem, so folding is not a profitable option.

Limping or Calling with Pocket Jacks

Poker decisions are situational. Don't set unchanging rules about how you'll play a particular hand. Your play should never be predictable.

I limp with jacks from early position roughly 90% of the time. Other players' approaches might be different and more profitable for them. But this is the approach that works for me.

Limping and calling are more appropriate at loose, wild tables. But factor your playing style and strengths into the decision.

If you're a strong post-flop player, build the pot without scaring away the other players. You want to outplay them after the flop.

If you're not confident of your post flop play, try to play for a set (in other words, attempt to trap an opponent when you hit a set) or attempt to thin the field.

Before you limp, decide what you will do in each of the following situations.

If a late position player raises
If a late position player moves all in
If other players limp and the flop has a card higher than a jack
If other players limp and the flop is 10 high or less

These are the types of questions you should be asking every time you have to make a decision at the poker table.

Raising with Pocket Jacks

Raising is more appropriate at tight, passive tables.

Following the same logic, ask yourself these questions before raising. What will you do?

If a late position player re-raises
If a late position player moves all in
If you are called and the flop has a card higher than a Jack
If you are called and the flop is 10 high or less

Thinking About Pocket Jacks

Great poker players think about the game a lot, both at the table and away from it. They combine this thinking with their reads on the other players to decide how to play.

How I Play Pocket Jacks

I play pocket jacks like pocket 8’s. I limp with them and will call a raise for less than roughly an eighth of my stack (assuming the raiser also has at least 8 times the bet behind) preflop, and I'll abandon them unless they are top pair or a set after the flop.

I change this routine when other players at the table are very passive pre flop or the player/s remaining after the flop are weak.

You might have better luck with another style, but this strategy works well for me.

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