Pocket Jacks late tourney?

I have come to dread seeing JJ in my hand late in the tourney when my decision to push or to limp can bust me when I'm painfully close to the money. I've lost a showdown with them far more often than I've ever won. But they're JUST SO TEMPTING! Is it just me? How do you guys play them at this late stage?

You are not alone. Conventional wisdom says there are 3 ways to play jacks (raise, call, fold) and all of them are wrong!

I would suggest a raise, or maybe a reraise, but never calling a re-reraise with them, unless they turned into a set.

I would make sure I was on the button or cutoff before raising up jacks unless the opponents are timid. They don't race very well against high draws and are crushed by AA and KK. I like to limp/call minraise and hope to catch the flop with a set, then you have a money hand.

What has worked for me is, if i am in early position, i will just limp in and maybe call a small raise. If i don't hit and there are overs on the board i raise to see if i can get everyone to fold but if anyone plays back at all i just stop and make decisions by pot odds.

If i am in middle position i will raise or call a small raise and play the flop the same way as before.

If i am in late position i will raise if nobody is in the pot and try to steal the blinds. I really don't want a call. If someone has limped or raised i will re-raise to see where they stand if they re-raise ... that's the decision you have to make for your tournament. If you have the stack to withstand not hitting the flop and folding , then call. If you don't but the person is a fish then just call. If you think your beat and your close to the money, fold.

Folding is usually the best answer anyways. If your lost in the hand and have no idea what they have, then your own your own because you are already behind rather your jj's are better or not.