Archive Pick: Jacks in the small blind facing two raises, no limit cash live

What we said then…

I think the right play here is to call. You’re getting better than 3-1 to call, which is a fine price to take off a flop. The two big questions that come up once you decide to call are: how are you going to handle the flop and why didn’t you raise instead?

I think raising is a losing play here. The problem is that to isolate the short stack, who you may very well be ahead of, you’re going to have to raise a pretty large amount - more than you want to commit in the case that Player B has a real hand. It’s going to take over $300 to do it correctly, as anything less will offer a pretty decent price to Player B if Player A calls.

On the flop, you’ll actually be in pretty decent shape checking 100% of the time. The short stack has enough left to give you all of the information you need about Player B’s hand if they bet - if Player B folds and the flop is Q high or less, you can probably feel ok about calling. If Player B calls you’re probably done with the hand on just about all flops. If Player A checks and Player B bets, you can make a decision based on the flop and your read.

The only real choices are shove, fold, or call. Given the situational details I can’t see anything wrong with any of those three choices.

However I voted call because player B has 680 left in his stack and given the existing pot size, it’s not a bad place to try and flop a set - and since rags also give you a good flop calling is quite attractive. If even one overcard flops I’m giving it up.

I voted push here. Although I agree with the analysis completely, there is one more factor here. Jacks = death. I would just as soon race it out, and avoid yet another jacks induced ulcer. The quick heart attack is much easier to take.

Understand the analysis and OPI, there’s nothing wrong with what they said, but I have to agree with Sted here. Shove to isolate the short stack. No way you want to play JJ against 2 players. Sure if you flop a set you’re golden, but that’s only 1 in 8 whereas an overcard on the flop is 1 in 2.

I voted call. I’d expect player A to shove no matter what, and if you flop an overpair then im check/calling.

In fact if player B folds, then it’s probably ok to call irregardless of the texture of the flop since your read implies that player A is on tilt and would be doing this sort of thing with low suited connectors, or even rag-nothing, and you’ll be paying $210 for a chance to win $485.

Calling is verrrrrry weak. Shove FTW.

i voted call too but i saw joe hashem fold JJ in a similar situation stating “jacks just arent that strong”