What's the correct decision?

OK, I have been running in to this a couple times lately more than usual and was wondering if anyone else had some insight or tips. I have already read some information in Daniel Negranue's Book about it but its not as in depth as I want it to be.....

Lets Say you have Js Jc and the flop is 10h 3h 6h...

your first to act after just raising 4 times the BB preflop.....

what do you do????

Usually just to bet. You usually have the best hand (value) and are vulnerable to overcards and flushes (protection).

These questions are so vague, its almost impossible to answer. It can vary from check/raise all in, to bet for value, to check/fold. Depending on lots and lot of circumstances and game conditions.

But for a vague answer to a vague question, bet 3/4 of the pot.

you need to protect your hand and bet, anybody who might have called has a good chance of having at least one card higher than a jack. You want to try to push them out right here before the turn.

It is a little vague, but let's tacke one common scenario, ala Dan Harington
Let's put you 1OB (the cut-off)
You open raise 4xbb with Js Jc and get 1 caller in the big blind.
The flop is 10h 3h 6h.
"what do you do????"
Well, what does he do?
He checks.
a) Check
b) Bet 1/2 - 3/4 pot
c) Go all-in

Your opponent called 4xbb from a late position raiser in prime stealing position with almost 2:1 odds to call. As far as he's concerned, you could have anything therefore he could have anything. You have an over pair to the board. In all probablity you are still ahead. The flop IS suited but it is very unlikely that he has flopped a flush. If he had, checking might have been a mistake without the nuts. But, any AKQT or heart on the turn or the river might spell trouble.

Score 0 points for a) checking. There are many hands that can outdraw you. Giving a free card would be a mistake.
Score 3 points for b) raising 1/2 to 3/4 pot. You don't mind a call here but you'd like to take this one down now.
Score 0 points for c) raising all-in. You'll see beginners doing this when they're afraid to play out the hand. Yes, you'll probably win the hand outright but the main problem with this is that ONLY a better hand will call. When you win, you'll win small. When you lose you'll lose BIG.

Attached Images

JJ vs Suited flop.JPG (36.6 KB, 2 views)

thanks four dogs excellent post....

Personally i would bet about half the pot to see where i was , i tend not to raise with jacks anyway as id rather see a flop im ok with folding them after a flop too.
Its a trouble hand prob the most troublesome hand along with AQ.

I would say bet here to see where you are in the hand. He may just have a bare heart which he is most likely just going to call with, worst case he has 10xAh or something along those lines. Also depends on your position after the flop as well. But I'm assuming your first to act after the flop.

limping with jacks would be a poor play

That depends on your position

I would lead out with a bet approximately the size of the pot. This would force your opponent into making a big decision in that in order for him to re-pop you, he would have to commit a lot of chips. He would also not be 100% sure that you would fold if he were to re-raise at this point, being that you raised pre-flop from early posn. But what the hell, that's just my opinion!

I would put out a half the pot rasie which is standard and see what you opponent does.

If he rasies be cautious he may have the set
if he calls rasie pot.
and then he may fold on your half pot bet.

when would it be correct to limp with jacks?

there is really no situation. maybe heads up if ur opponent raises everyhand. at a 9 or 6 person table you'll lose money if your limping with jacks. you're just giving more opponents a chance to see the flop. also, you don't really know what your opponents have if u get a raise in front of you, they could have AA AK AJ or a middle pocket pair. if u raise with JJ preflop, you'll have a good idea on what your opponents are holding. limping with JJ, all you're doing is giving opponents cheap flops for a chance to suckout on you, and it leaves you in the dark as to what kind of hands they have.

i think limping with jacks is an extremely poor play and you'll lose money in doing so.

JJ is a tough one for sure due to it's dual nature. Is is a high pair? Is it a middle pair? Should I raise with it, or should I play it for set value? It's only about a 20% favorite vs 8 random, or 33% vs 5 top 50%. Furthar more, it drops to about 26% vs 2 holed pairs. In addition, it's the highest pocket pair with less than a 50% chance of being the high card after the flop. I wouldn't fault anyone for being a little hesitant to re-open a multiway pot in under this condition; you will get callers, and you will most likely see an Ace, King, or Queen on the board, making it a very tough sell.

Live game,... raise 1/2 pot,.. online, 2/3 to 3/4 but depends on your opponent and what game (buy-in $$, etc.) that you're playing. If say you're on PokerStars in a $1 sng playing against a bunch of novice calling stations,... then who knows what the answer is?? (just don't play, lol).
Assuming that you're playing against decent players, your bet will lead them to think along the lines that they'd be thinking if they were playing a hand (ie. 'your hand',.. you raised,... what are you holding??,.. maybe A-K, or A-Q, and maybe the A, K, or Q is a heart??
The 'right' play is the one you will instintually know after playing many hands in many games, with the accumulated knowledge you've gained from them, from books, and whatever avenue you may have (gaining info. from someone who can actually play well,.. not just 'talk well').
GL