Playing JJ

[NoRhino]

I was pokerstoving pre-flop ranges last night to keep my brain in tune with poker and decided to write up a quick article on pocket jacks. I Hope it helps someone.

It is interesting to see that JJ vs. a range of QQ+,AKo,AKs has only 4% less equity than QQ vs. the same range. Additionally 22 has only 2% less than JJ. This got me thinking and I did some calculations based on someone who 3-bets 7% of their range but only calls a shove with QQ+,AKo,AKs. It shows that shoving any pair and AK would turn a profit. This showed me how exploitable you can be if you three bet too much although if they were too widen their range for calling to include TT/JJ you quickly start to make a loss. If their 3-bet range is 5.5% you would make a small loss on shoving any pair over their 3-bet. The reason for these calculations stemmed from thinking how to play JJ. Running over the maths you quickly realise in blind vs. button you can never really go too wrong by 3-betting JJ and shoving over a 4-bet. It is a fine play against your average player, one who is opening a reasonable amount of hands from late position because the equity difference between JJ and QQ is so small against their calling range. If a player is a little tighter or in an earlier position the option of calling becomes more appealing especially when you have position. Calling keeps their range wider and it can often be a good way to add more value to your hand. Similarly a low coordinated flop will open their range to over pairs that we are ahead of as well as draws which we have good equity against. The downside is we may fold the best hand to a continuation bet when an over card flops which is more of a reason to three bet when out of position. JJ has great equity post flop and with position is a great hand, deciding between three betting and calling when folding isn't an option should be based on your position, your opponent’s position and also their tendencies.

- NoRhino