Expert Plays for No Limit Tournaments
How To Play Pocket Jacks
Pocket Jacks look premium but most players will often declare, "I hate freaking Jacks!"
It is one of the most difficult hands to play since most players don't know how to play this hand. Here is why pocket Jacks are so difficult to play and the right way to play this hand:
A big mistake players make is that if they are in one of the early position at the table--that is the first three positions after the big blind--they make a big raise if first in the hand. For example, players will raise 5 times the big blind or more with pocket Jacks.
This is a mistake.
The right play in this situation is to keep the pot small. Bet two, two and half or even three times the big blind. You want to get players to fold, but you don't want to be too committed to this hand. If a player re-raises you, and you have made a 5 times the big blind raise you are going to be inclined to call that re-raise. A smaller raise pre-flop will be a smaller loss if you fold to a re-raise.
In addition, you need to realize that a card higher than a Jack will flop over 65% of the time. That's why players get so frustrated. When one player calls your raise pre-flop, what are you going to do when the flop comes with an Ace, or King or Queen?
Here is a recommended course of action on those flops. If there is only one card higher than a Jack, bet the flop if you were the pre-flop raiser. If you get resistance, slow down. Determine if your opponent has hit top pair or is on a draw.
If there are two cards higher than a Jack, don't be ashamed to put on the brakes. The worst thing that can happen is you lose a small pot. Another hand of poker will be dealt. Promise. After all, you just have "freaking Jacks!"
Bonus: Do You Know Your Poker Table Image?
It's Key For Winning Poker
What is Table Image? Why is it So Important?
The playing style that a player has at the table is considered his table image. If an opponent has not played any hands for a long time period, he will have a tight table image. A player who enters many pots with a raise will have an aggressive table image.
It is important to try to determine the playing style of your opponents since it will improve your decisions. For example, holding A-Q is a stronger hand against the aggressive player than a tight player. The reason is that the aggressive player is entering many hands and probably does not have a hand as strong as yours. While the tight player will need a premium hand to enter the pot.
As a result, while raising the aggressive player is a smart play, folding may be the right play against the tight player.
It is important to think about the table image you have created to your opponents. Importantly, you will find that not all of your opponents perceive your image the same way. As a result, your decisions against one opponent may differ against another opponent.
As a general rule, though, you want to play the opposite your table image. If your opponent views you as never being able to bluff, it will be easier to make a play that will bluff him out of a hand. If your opponent views you as a maniac, you will be much more likely to be called or even raised to put you to the test.
About the Author
Mitchell is a successful
poker author,
coach, & player.
He is a strategist
to business including
Procter & Gamble
and Hewlett-Packard.
PokerStars Intellipoker selected his first book
for international distribution to educate players worldwide.
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