Table of content: Playing pocket jacks (or JJ poker) preflop Playing pocket jacks (JJ poker) post flop Some general things to keep in mind during JJ poker Final thoughts about JJ poker The pocket jack is touted as the most troublesome hand in poker. Known as fish hooks, jaybirds, jj poker, and even brothers, the pocket jack, though indicative of a strong hand, is often pitted against pocket aces, kings, and queens. Playing the pocket jack can be rather tricky. Read on to understand how a novice must play his/ her pocket jack in the best way possible.Playing pocket jacks (or JJ poker) preflopThere is no sure shot method to playing jj poker in pre-flop as a lot depends on the table position of the player, the blinds, the opponents, and chip stacks.Probability dictates that the pocket jacks have a 56% win rate against a 47% loss. Though the odds might not seem all that favorable, the risk, if undertaken in a cautious, calculated manner, can pay off good returns.The pre-flop can serve as a usual round for information gathering. If it appears that no other player has a higher pair than the one you hold, an open raise from your side will be a value raise. If players with a higher pair exist, your raise will be an information raise.It is always necessary to consider one’s position, one’s position relative to other big hands in the table, and one’s position relative to extreme players during jj poker. When the player is heads-up, the pocket jack will come through as a very strong hand because the player needn’t worry about the other players flopping trips or two pairs. In cases where there is a raise ahead of you in jj poker, there are two options: one is to call and make the decisions post-flop without any other information from the pre-flop, or the second is to make a three-bet pre-flop.Also, in situations where an extremely tight player has called a raise from an early position, it is best if the player calls flat with the pocket jacks, as the player in question is likely to have an extremely narrow range.Pocket jacks are the perfect examples of a middle-hand pre-flop simply because if the opponents hit the flop, the pocket jacks will become a bottom hand, turning it into nothing more than a bluff. It is best to avoid over-committing from an early position and to play it like a small pocket pair on the flop.Playing pocket jacks (JJ poker) post flopAs the blinds increase, pocket jacks have the chance of turning into all-in hands and are worth more than a tight aggressive cash game. However, one must remember that statistically, the probability of running into an over-card is 2/3 of the time. Jj poker is situational, and the pocket jacks are only as strong as your opponent's hand allows. Therefore, the key is reading and adapting to the board post-flop.For instance, say the flop comes down to an A-K-3 (of different suits), the original raiser continues with the bet, and an aggressive player calls. It is prudent at this point to exit as there is a high probability that one of them has an ace or king. There are a lot of variances and tight spots that the pocket jack will place the player in. The player must proceed with some tact and caution.If you run into a low-carb flop, play the situation to your advantage and play your pocket jacks strongly to derive the maximum value. One may bet the flop, turn, and river and slow down only when there is a board runout, such as the turn comes with a king and the river comes with an ace.Regarding high card flops, experts generally advise players to ‘bet the flop, check the turn, bet the river’ or ‘check the flop, bet the turn, bet the river.’ This exercise of pot control will underrepresent the strength of the player’s hand and expose the worse hands of opponent players.Also Read How to play SitNGo PokerWhat is a French face card in a card deck?A complete guide on Betting in PokerSome general things to keep in mind during JJ poker· Pocket jacks tend to lose strength with the presence of more players and, at times, when overcards hit the board. The key is to get players out of the pot as early as possible to better one’s chances.· It is best to be cautious when the opponents raise or re-raise, as there are higher chances of them having a higher card, such as an ace, king, or queen. An automatic quit is not called for; it just means that you’ve got to ‘slow your roll’ and respond and recalibrate accordingly.· Most importantly, don’t avoid folding out of obstinacy or thoughtless optimism.Final thoughts about JJ pokerPlaying pocket jacks effectively is crucial for success, especially at low-limit poker tables. Pocket jacks are exceptionally strong hands, to begin with, but the fear of running into an ace or king might dampen your appetite to run the game to its fruition. Instead of resigning to the fate of the hand, a well-calibrated approach might help you capitalize on the cards that were once considered with some loathing. GetMega is an amazing platform that lets you play Hold'em Poker with friends & family with real money. Sounds fun, isn't it? Download the GetMega Hold 'em Poker now! 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