How to Play JJ - Pocket Jacks - In No Limit Holdem Poker

I can remember a time in the past when I used to get JJ in a no limit holdem ring game and cringe, knowing that it would be super difficult to play at best. I'd read a little strategy that told me JJ was a great hand but I had no idea how to play it.

First of all, I didn't know how to play it preflop. I knew I was supposed to raise the hand but what was I supposed to do if someone re-raised me? Sure, it's a great hand, but how far do I take it?

Second, I didn't know what to do with it when I got to a flop and got action from an opponent. Did they have something stronger? What if an overcard came on the flop? I'd usually end up making what I knew had to be bad folds or calling down and losing. It seemed like an impossible hand to play.

It took a long time for me to figure out how to play JJ but I finally learned how to value the hand and what to do in every situation. It can be a difficult hand in poker but that's no reason to shy away from it. Jack-Jack is a long term money-making hand if you play it with a calm and cool mindset.

Pocket Jacks Preflop Strategy

If there hasn't been a raise yet, you should always raise pocket jacks preflop. The most common raise is 3-4 big blinds +1 big blind per limper. For example, if you're playing in a $0.50/$1.00 no limit game and one person has already limped in, you should make a $5 raise.

If there has already been a raise, you should put in a re-raise of 3-4x the size of that person's raise. So if someone made a $4 raise, you should re-raise (3-bet) to $9-$12. If the original raiser is extra tight, you can just call his preflop raise and play the hand from there.

If you get re-raised, you will want to proceed with extreme caution. The correct action really depends on your read of the opponent, your position and how comfortable you are with playing JJ.

Against loose 3-bettors, I will go ahead and push all-in with JJ. Most of the time your opponent will fold, sometimes he'll call with something like AK or worse and other times he'll happen to have AA, KK or QQ. In any case, you can push against loose 3-bettors and profit in the long run.

When tight opponents 3-bet you, it's OK to fold unless you're extremely comfortable with JJ and you're in late position. It might sound nitty to fold JJ in this situation but a fold is often the correct play here. This is especially true if you have no idea of how to continue the hand after the flop.

Remember, you'll get an overcard over 50% of the time when you see a flop with JJ. Because of this, it's better to end the hand preflop (by either going all in or folding) than it is to try and play the hand without a plan.

(Note - The above paragraph only applies to getting re-raised. If you go around randomly pushing JJ all-in, you won't be doing yourself any favors. You should only push JJ all-in against loose 3-bettors.)

The goal in playing JJ preflop is to take control of the hand by either being the aggressor or folding it. The last thing you want to do is play passively and call down a bunch of bets without knowing where you stand.

Pocket Jacks Postflop Strategy

Once you've made it past the flop, your next goal is to avoid the land mines that dot the field of postflop play. Playing JJ is pretty straightforward preflop - you want to be either the aggressor or the folder and nothing in between.

Your job after the flop will be a lot easier if you were the aggressor before the flop. This is because you can bet with confidence and your opponents will have to make the tough decisions.

If there are no overcards on the flop, you can bet JJ on the flop, turn and river for value. If your opponents just call you down, let them. The only time you should worry is if someone puts a raise back in your face.

When an opponent raises you while you have JJ and there are no overcards on the flop, you will have to look at the board texture and consider your opponent's playing style. There is no end-all solution to this problem but you will usually have to fold in this situation.

It's easy to get attached to your hand but remember, JJ is just a single pair. When your opponents raise, they are usually telling the truth (especially in small stakes games) and they are usually raising with something that can beat a simple pair of jacks.

If there are overcards on the flop, JJ is actually a pretty easy hand to play. All you have to do is throw a continuation bet out there like you would with any other hand. If you get any calls, you'll want to shut shop and try to check it down the rest of the way. If anyone bets or raises, you'll have to fold your jacks.

Summary

Jack-Jack is a great hand but it's also vulnerable to many other poker hands. Play a tight-aggressive game by either being the person doing all the betting or folding. There are no absolutes when it comes to poker strategy so don't be afraid to adjust your JJ strategy to the situation at hand.