Prefolp should I play my QQ more like JJ or KK?

[ProZachNation]

You have prob read my disapeared posts, Ill maybe add sme more HH off QQ hands later, what do you think?

This is for pretty early on in the tourney, towards the end I play my QQ like bullets

[konahead]

I play them more like JJ than KK.

KK - I try to get all my chips in preflop, but raise 3x-5xbb depending on position and limpers/raisers.
JJ/QQ - I mostly play for a set, but always raise 5xbb+ to limit the field more, folding to any reraise, and check/folding to an A/K flop. Pot-sized bet on <J flop (assuming I get to see a flop), then play it by ear.

btw - i think all posts between 1/14/06 and 1/19/06 are missing, not just yours....

[MAX]

I treat all 3 diff.

JJ = play for set
QQ = normal raise but be willing to fold to push (without a read)
KK = raise and be willing to get it ai preflop

[a500lbgorilla]

If you're asking this question, almost undoubtedly more like JJ

[lambchopdc]

JJ = play for set

Ok....comments like these make me want to explode. Anyone who has ever been in IRC has seen my "* Lambchop HATES PEOPLE THAT COLD-CALL JJ." Everytime I see advice about Pocket Jacks i always see the "play for a set" line. Where does everyone get this from? I guess it shouldn't suprise me that every sit and go I play i see at least one comment from fish about "I hate JJ, it never wins," "JJ sucks its so hard to play." Am I the only person that wins with JJ and QQ? Seriously i'm not just being a dick....i'm actually curious. I have a 75% winrate with JJ in SNGs after almost 1k SNGS. Thats right behind QQ, KK, and AA.

My girlfriend just yelled at me for making another bitchy post and said posts are supposed to provide "constructive criticism" so here goes, this is how you win with JJ and QQ.

- Stop playing JJ and QQ like 66 and 77....they are higher in rank for a reason.
- Raise with them, hard. On early blind levels, re-raise if you know u can get the pot HU.
- The ONLY ONLY ONLY time you should play JJ or QQ for a set is if you are almost positive your opponent has AA or KK. I.E. You raise to 600 on 200 blinds UTG with JJ and UTG+1 chip leader makes it a total of 1000, practically screaming at you what he has.
- If you EVER limp JJ or QQ in a sit and go, I will hunt you down and kill you. Let me repeat, hunt you down, I've been building a list.
- If you EVER cold call a single preflop raise with JJ or QQ, I will hunt you down and kill you.
- DON'T CALL DOWN with JJ or QQ, raise or fold postflop. Figure out if they are good, bet if they are, fold if they're not. Don't do the fishy check/call to the river routine, more often that not, he has you beat.
- If a SINGLE over card flops, c-bet it, assume your hand is good until your opp. tells you otherwise. If you get re-raised, they are probably not good. If you get called on a flop of like A 4 8 rainbow, guess what? Your QQ or JJ is no longer good. You asked them a question, they answered, listen.
- Pound them hard when they're ahead, fold them fast when they're behind. If it becomes obvious that your JJ or QQ is no longer good, run away....fast....you're beat....get over it, stop getting married to your hand. However, you have the 3rd and 4th strongest hands in Holdem, stop being pussies when they're ahead.

Ok there, i'm done, i've vented....the steam is done coming out of my ears. In answer to the original post, play your QQ, KK, and JJ alike in early levels, they have the same power if you learn how to play them right. I apologize if anything above is mean or offensive, please everyone don't get pissy about the presentation but please discuss the content.

Ok, now that I have posted.....I'm anticipating the typical "post-lambchop flame war." You may begin now.

[MAX]

Well, we all have our own way. I'm sure JJ is quite profitable for most of us. I think that playing big pots early in SNGs with JJ unimproved is a bad idea(you have no reads, no way of knowing how many will call you preflop, and no idea where you stand post flop). The times you are beat/forced to fold, hurt your chances of winning more than you benefit from the extra 200 chips you pick up when you take it down on the flop. I lose very little when I fail to connect/take it down. I win a lot when I hit my sets. Your method is probably not the best for those who are not strong post flop.

[WildBobAA]

JJ is one of the most underrated hands in Holdem. Everyone seems to hate them but give me JJ over AK any day.

[GatorJH]

- If you EVER limp JJ or QQ in a sit and go, I will hunt you down and kill you. Let me repeat, hunt you down, I've been building a list.
- If you EVER cold call a single preflop raise with JJ or QQ, I will hunt you down and kill you.

Chill out Francis.

[zenbitz]

If you EVER fold JJ or QQ pre-flop in an SNG, I will ...

Oh, never mind. You probalby should fold this SOMETIMES (edit).

I play QQ very, very strong - with the exception that I will lay it down pre-flop (which I won't do with KK). Or at least I say I will. I don't think I've ever actaully done it... Early I mean. Once your M hits 10, I am pretty much taking it to the felt.

Doesn't "cold call" mean calling a raise and re-raise?

[baudib]

personally I think limping JJ is insane. You can certainly flop your set and lose to some stupid 65s straight or flush because you let the BB see the flop for free.

The problem I see is that if you just limp in EP and there are five limpers behind you, someone with TT or AK in the BB can push and I have to fold.

With low blinds I like to raise it to 2.5 or so; if it's first level I might make it 5xBB. Enough to build a decent pot if the flop is kind but it's easy to get away when overcards flop and you don't lose much.

[Rockymv]

You should play it like QQ. That said, I play it more like JJ any that I don't reraise with it early. You have a 50% chance of flopping all unders or a queen. I'd rather not have to make a really tough decision when an A or K flops. When you reraise and cont. bet into a A or K high flop, you're spending a whole lot of chips to find out if they have it.

Of course, if their PF raise is big enough, I'll just push.

[vqc]

JJ = play for set

- If you EVER limp JJ or QQ in a sit and go, I will hunt you down and kill you. Let me repeat, hunt you down, I've been building a list.
- If you EVER cold call a single preflop raise with JJ or QQ, I will hunt you down and kill you.

Ok, now that I have posted.....I'm anticipating the typical "post-lambchop flame war." You may begin now.

do u still play at PP?

U might want to hunt down aces and kill him then.

[Laeelin]

QQ a great hand, I play it more like JJ than KK, but thats because I play JJ aggressively as well

[SnoT_III]

JJ = play for set

Ok....comments like these make me want to explode. Anyone who has ever been in IRC has seen my "* Lambchop HATES PEOPLE THAT COLD-CALL JJ." Everytime I see advice about Pocket Jacks i always see the "play for a set" line. Where does everyone get this from? I guess it shouldn't suprise me that every sit and go I play i see at least one comment from fish about "I hate JJ, it never wins," "JJ sucks its so hard to play." Am I the only person that wins with JJ and QQ? Seriously i'm not just being a dick....i'm actually curious. I have a 75% winrate with JJ in SNGs after almost 1k SNGS. Thats right behind QQ, KK, and AA.

My girlfriend just yelled at me for making another bitchy post and said posts are supposed to provide "constructive criticism" so here goes, this is how you win with JJ and QQ.

- Stop playing JJ and QQ like 66 and 77....they are higher in rank for a reason.
- Raise with them, hard. On early blind levels, re-raise if you know u can get the pot HU.
- The ONLY ONLY ONLY time you should play JJ or QQ for a set is if you are almost positive your opponent has AA or KK. I.E. You raise to 600 on 200 blinds UTG with JJ and UTG+1 chip leader makes it a total of 1000, practically screaming at you what he has.
- If you EVER limp JJ or QQ in a sit and go, I will hunt you down and kill you. Let me repeat, hunt you down, I've been building a list.
- If you EVER cold call a single preflop raise with JJ or QQ, I will hunt you down and kill you.
- DON'T CALL DOWN with JJ or QQ, raise or fold postflop. Figure out if they are good, bet if they are, fold if they're not. Don't do the fishy check/call to the river routine, more often that not, he has you beat.
- If a SINGLE over card flops, c-bet it, assume your hand is good until your opp. tells you otherwise. If you get re-raised, they are probably not good. If you get called on a flop of like A 4 8 rainbow, guess what? Your QQ or JJ is no longer good. You asked them a question, they answered, listen.
- Pound them hard when they're ahead, fold them fast when they're behind. If it becomes obvious that your JJ or QQ is no longer good, run away....fast....you're beat....get over it, stop getting married to your hand. However, you have the 3rd and 4th strongest hands in Holdem, stop being pussies when they're ahead.

Ok there, i'm done, i've vented....the steam is done coming out of my ears. In answer to the original post, play your QQ, KK, and JJ alike in early levels, they have the same power if you learn how to play them right. I apologize if anything above is mean or offensive, please everyone don't get pissy about the presentation but please discuss the content.

Ok, now that I have posted.....I'm anticipating the typical "post-lambchop flame war." You may begin now.

thank you