Ever wondered why pocket jacks are so hard to play? For beginners in particular, this hand brings much more trouble than the ace-king or ace-queen. So why would arguably the fourth or fifth best starting hand cause so much problem? To answer your question, we are going to be uncovering the best ways to play pocket jacks preflop and postflop.
How to Play Pocket Jacks Preflop
Most times, beginners over-raise JJ pre-flop, open-shove their hand, or simply get confused on how to go about the whole thing. Quite frankly, there is no straightforward explanation because of how subjective playing pocket jacks preflop is. It all depends on your table position, the blinds, chip stacks, and your ability to read your opponents.
Since more players struggle when they are deep stacked, a good idea in preflop will be to try and avoid getting your poker chips because your opponents are not likely to use theirs even when they have bigger hands. It is more preferable to go for the smaller pots which you have some control over and this invariably means that you have to be good on the postflop as well to be able to increase your win-loss ratio.
How to Play Pocket Jacks Postflop
Having had some knowledge about the odds, you will be familiar with the strength and weakness of pocket jacks. The most important thing about playing pocket jacks postflop is being able to adapt to the board texture.
One key thing to remember in poker is that you should never bet the middle hand because you won’t be getting called by a worse hand; it will always be a better hand. For instance, unless JJ, which is a middle hand pre-flop improves when on the flop, it is always going to be a middle hand and when your opponents hit, it will become a bottom hand, which is a mere bluff. However, if nobody has a top hand, you are in a good situation. This is the reason things are not so straightforward with playing pocket jacks.
Knowing When To Fold Jacks
The first rule here is to avoid getting attached to your jacks. That being said, you should know when you are beat. This will allow you to get out before you lose your entire stack. So many beginners fail to follow this basic principle. No doubt, losing a good hand hurts but when you consider the board bringing kings, queens, and aces, then it is no longer difficult to be up against some bigger pair.
Unless there is a reason to break the rule, when facing aggression on the boards, have it at the back of your mind that it is time to let go of the jacks just as with wet boards and many straights or flushes. It might take you some time to get the hang of it but that is perfectly fine since you would only be gaining more experience.
Knowing When To Call With Jacks
Simply making a call preflop can surprise opponents and hide information about the hand you have. In order words, you get to limit your exposure by committing less while also hiding the strength of your hand. On the other hand, your opponents may get access to the hand cheap and might be able to hit you on the flop.
Calling preflop allows you to assess the situation after being dealt and it is particularly great for games where raising doesn’t impede the field where your opponents continuously call raises. Bear in mind that your call limits the pots size, so you can easily use that to your advantage. Understanding how to play pocket jacks effectively is vital for your success in tournaments, particularly the ones with low limit poker tables, which brings us to the next section.
Top 3 Poker Sites Right Now
Several online poker sites exist on the internet today and it can be quite difficult to choose the best ones out there. Fortunately, a few sites stand out and have proven to be reliable over the years. Below are the top 3 sites to play online poker.
1. Ignition Poker
If you are a poker player, the chances are that you would have already heard about Ignition Poker and the reason is not far-fetched. This online poker site offers the ultimate gambling experience with tons of poker options and a closely-knit online community. But that’s not all – staggering bonuses, exciting tournaments, and strategic guides for new poker players come as icing on the cake. This leaves you with no reason to want to miss the experience of playing on Ignition Poker on your mobile phone or PC. You can get started on Ignition Poker here.
Pros
- It remains the biggest poker site in the US
- Can accommodate over 3,000 players in a room
- Great banking options
- Lots of sit n go’s
- User-friendly interface
- Big million dollar tournaments
- Incognito playing modes
- Decent customer service
- Features gaming software from the best providers
Cons
- Lack of e-wallet banking options
- Rewards program could be better
2. Bovada Poker
Bovada Poker is another top-rated online poker site that offers a full gambling experience. Apart from its intimate links with Ignition Poker, Bovada still stands out for being well-integrated. Users can switch from Poker to slots to racing and sports and back seamlessly with one account. For poker which we are interested in, Bovada offers instant play in its poker rooms with numerous cash rewards. Whether you want to play on a weekday or on a weekend, you will find poker events to enjoy regardless of your schedule. You can get started on Bovada Poker here.
Pros
- Reputable brand
- Quality games and journeys
- Safe banking options
- Regular bonuses
- Friendly customer support
- User-friendly interface
Cons
- Not available worldwide
- Outrageous fees on credit card deposits
3. BetOnline Poker
BetOnline is another exciting primary online poker site with real money options for players. What makes the site impressive is that poker comes first before every other thing and as a result, BetOnline has made its way into the top 3 online poker sites in terms of traffic. Having been into business for almost 2 decades, BetOnline has been able to establish itself as a reputable platform. The site offers generous bonuses and huge prize pools for players and also stands out for its cryptocurrency advocacy. You can get started on BetOnline Poker here.
Pros
- Accepts US players
- Offers the most interesting variety of poker games
- Safe and secure banking options
- Crypto-friendly banking options
- Offers large bad beat jackpots
- Regular tournament action
- Mobile-friendly app
- Great customer service options
Cons
- Does not accept PayPal
- High fees on card deposits
- Fewer games
Final Thoughts
Putting it all together, we can summarize by knowing the important pocket jacks errors to avoid. This includes overplaying pre-flop by putting way too much in the pot when you are already deep stacked or even 4-betting when you should be calling. Also, you should not be over-committing post-flop. Let go of the hand instead. And if you are too passive with the JJ because of your past experiences, you will miss out on value.
Lastly, do not tilt or get wound up about the pocket jacks in a poker hand. In the end, there are many ways to play pocket jacks and each situation is different. However, one thing that is certain is that there are top sites to play online and the three most important remain Ignition Poker, Bovada Poker, and BetOnline Poker. These online poker sites are not just licensed but they also have all the ingredients that make them the most suitable options for players in the US and other countries – security, customer service, banking, bonuses, events, and lots more.
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