So You Want to Know How to Play Pocket Jacks...
As GTO Wizard explains, 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 GTO Wizard solution archive.
Common Issues Playing Pocket Jacks
According to the GTO Wizard 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.
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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
