$10NL - no good way to play Jacks

I am trying to improve my ring game (which is barely even now). Here is a hand I want to know if I did the right things on. I have tagged the CO as loose aggressive. Action up to flop:

full tilt poker, $0.05/$0.10 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 7 Players
Hero (BB): $6.70
UTG: $9.15
UTG+1: $2.20
MP: $9.25
CO: $7.15
BTN: $8.90
SB: $5.30
Pre-Flop: dealt to Hero (BB)
2 folds,
MP calls $0.10,
CO raises to $0.40,
2 folds,
Hero calls $0.30,
MP folds
Flop: ($0.95) (2 Players)
Results: $0.95 Pot ($0.95 Rake)

Generally I'm re-raising with JJ, especially in the blinds because you'll be OOP. The difficulty with FT $10NL I find is that a lot of players will limp/call with garbage or raise/call with decent but not great hands. If you re-raise and get called at least you control of the hand.

On the flop you've got an overpair with runner-runner flush/straight possibilities, but it's also a flop that could have hit him, especially if he's loose. Lead out and hope he's got AT rather than T9. Or if you're more comfortable, check-raise; I really haven't been able to figure out which gets more respect on FT at this level. Show that you've got something and make the flush/straight draws pay. Slow down on the turn/river if he calls as you're either way ahead or way behind.

3-bet JJ from the BB against a CO raiser as standard. Raise pre-flop to around $1.20 fold to a shove/4-bet, then lead any favourable flop.

As played I lead for $0.85, (you can c-raise lots but without the pre-flop information your kinda lost), if your called, re-evaluate any turn, and be prepared to release to major betting, call down light if possible.

tenbob said:

3-bet JJ from the BB against a CO raiser as standard.

Click to expand...

Define "3-bet" please.

pigpen02 said:

Define "3-bet" please.

Click to expand...

He's basically saying you need to raise. In PF play, the BB is the first bet (even though it is forced), so the CO raise was the 2-bet. Now, instead of calling the raise, you should have 3-bet (raise an appropriate amount, in this case to $1.20...definitely not min-raising here). Then the advice being that if villian 4-bets (raises you again after your 3-bet) or if he just shoves all-in then you need to fold right there. But if he just flat calls your 3-bet, then lead out on that flop and it was actually very favorable to you. Plus knowing that your opponent is LA means that you can lead into him and he'll pay you off if he either hit any part of that flop or even has an over card or two.

pigpen02 said:

Define "3-bet" please.

Click to expand...

Yeah, like JD says, big blind, raise, you reraise is the third bet.

I didn't know if it was a number or a size. I see it all clearly now! I will comment on my bets when I post more of the HH.

pigpen02 said:

I didn't know if it was a number or a size. I see it all clearly now! I will comment on my bets when I post more of the HH.

Click to expand...

Yep, it the bet number, not the amount. It can be easily confused when you opponent bets $40 and you're told to 3-bet to $120 (since the 3-bet has nothing to do with the fact your raise is triple his bet). And often times people forget the BB was bet one PF.

Here again is the action up to and after the flop.

Full Tilt Poker, $0.05/$0.10 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 7 Players
Hero (BB): $6.70
UTG: $9.15
UTG+1: $2.20
MP: $9.25
CO: $7.15
BTN: $8.90
SB: $5.30
Pre-Flop: dealt to Hero (BB)
2 folds,
MP calls $0.10,
CO raises to $0.40,
2 folds,
Hero calls $0.30,.............I generally don't 3 bet anything below queens. Advice being concidered.
MP folds
Flop: ($0.95) (2 Players)
Results: $0.95 Pot
Hero checks,.............Since I had not re-raised, I expected a bet. If this guy bet once, he would bet again.
CO bets $0.40,..........Sure enough, I got a bet.
Hero raises to $0.80,..Check-raised.
CO raises to $4,.........Not expecting this! Perhaps the check-raise not intiminating enough? Now what?

Fold. Out of position and you have no idea where you stand in the hand. The min-raise is bad as you know.

As said above, you have to put in a reasonable 3 bet pre-flop. I'd make it $1.50 or so.