So You Want to Know How to Play Pocket Jacks...
As GTO Wizard , there are three ways to play pocket jacks — and they're all wrong!
They've taken a look at the tricky hand in various multi-table tournament (MTT) scenarios using the solution archive.
Common Issues Playing Pocket Jacks
According to the video, there are three main issues when it comes to playing pocket jacks:
- Stacking Off Too Much — when does your opponent realistically have 10x10x?
- 3-Betting Too Much — what happens when your opponent four-bets?
- Multiple Postflop Errors — can you be really sure of your position?
Raising vs. Facing a Raise
There are various different ways to play pocket jacks, but pre-flop they can easily be boiled down to whether you are raising first-in (RFI) or facing a raise. Obviously these decisions also heavily depend on your stack size, but GTO Wizard offers helpful tips for a variety of stack sizes in both scenarios.
QUIZ: At what stack-depth does JxJx start open-shoving in Chip EV?
- 17bb
- 14bb
- 12bb
- 10bb
answer at the bottom of the article
Another interesting point is when GTO Wizard look at what you should do with JxJx facing a three-bet. For 200bb stack sizes, there are almost no four-bets, and these only start to become options at 80bb stack, and even then when in certain positions. One of these positions is when the three-bet comes from the big blind since the big blind has a very polarized three-betting range.
Preflop Summary
GTO Wizard stresses that with JxJx, it's important to play passively while deep. This means that pocket jacks will call a lot when facing a raise, and will rarely re-raise when facing a three-bet.
As stacks become shorter there are a lot more opportunities to three-bet versus a raise, and four-bet jam when stack sizes are around 30bb.
However, players should exercise caution. Jacks has always been a tricky hand, even with extensive study. That means that when approaching the bubble or late-game spots, players should exercise caution.
Be sure to watch the full video for extensive analysis on how to play pocket jacks post-flop. This includes overcard boards, disconnected undercards and spots where we flop a set or full house with pocket jacks.
Answer: 10bb
