Playing JJ somewhat late in MTT's

[ScottLogan]

I've had two almost identical situations lately - I'd like to hear thoughts:

1st situation: About 8o or 90 left in FTP 1K tourney. Top 27 paid. I'm in EP with JJ and abot $3800. Average stack is about $6500 and rest of table is between $5000 and $8000. I forget blinds exactly, but I remember M is between 6 and 7. Table is generally pretty solid, but there are 2 players in MP that have been LAG. The raise is obvious, but do I do a standard raise or push all in.

2nd situation: Stars $330 MTT. About 160 left, top 90 paid. I have raised or reraised 3 of the last 6 or 7 hands with very strong hands, but haven't shown down. This has allowed me to chip up to about $8500 (about average). Again, table is generally solid but two somewhat LAG players still to act. Not maniacs though. Again JJ in EP. Blinds $200 and $400 with $50 antes. Given stack sizes and recent image, how do you play?

[ilikeaces86]

First shove. Second raise to 2.5xBB

[UG]

First shove. Second raise to 2.5xBB

yup

[IowaSkinsFan]

First shove. Second raise to 2.5xBB

yup

You pay 11.99 for internet to say that?

[Sprayed]

{Moved from High Stakes Forum}

Hand 1 is pretty standard since you have a desperate stack. When you have ~10bbs (6 or 7M) it's a push.

Hand 2, since the blinds are somewhat big you can save some chips by raising 2.5xbb. If you face a reraise then you need to recognize who the palyer is (LAG or TAG) and act accordingly. Don't forget that you are in EP and the reraise may in fact be a hand that dominates or that you are racing against. Most won't reraise wide against an EP unless they think that you are getting out of line and are raising wide. Raising 3 out of the last 6 or 7 isn't that many and may not be noticed.

[ScottLogan]

Thanks for the feedback. Interesting to me that the replies all recommended different strategies to the two situations. I guess I assumed the strategies would be similar or identical (M about 6.5 in 1st example, and a little over 8 in second).

The results were very similar. In the 1st, a LAG reraised by pushing allin. In the second, a LAG minraised. In both cases I went all-in and faced AQ. Lost both races. That's what got me thinking. Both players probably would have folded to a push.

[Sprayed]

In hand one, by raising you are committed regardless and you have to call his shove when you have an M of 6.5 and JJ. Hand two, I would have reraised his min raise and called a push from him since you had an M of 8. I think that you need to start looking at each situation as in big blinds instead of M for when you should shove or call shoves. Normally, when you are around 15bbs and raise preflop you should call a shove if you have a reasonable hand. Also, the results don't matter if you played the hand correctly.

[AApoker]

I've had two almost identical situations lately - I'd like to hear thoughts:

1st situation: About 8o or 90 left in FTP 1K tourney. Top 27 paid. I'm in EP with JJ and abot $3800. Average stack is about $6500 and rest of table is between $5000 and $8000. I forget blinds exactly, but I remember M is between 6 and 7. Table is generally pretty solid, but there are 2 players in MP that have been LAG. The raise is obvious, but do I do a standard raise or push all in.

2nd situation: Stars $330 MTT. About 160 left, top 90 paid. I have raised or reraised 3 of the last 6 or 7 hands with very strong hands, but haven't shown down. This has allowed me to chip up to about $8500 (about average). Again, table is generally solid but two somewhat LAG players still to act. Not maniacs though. Again JJ in EP. Blinds $200 and $400 with $50 antes. Given stack sizes and recent image, how do you play?

Hand 1, shove them in. You don't mind a fold if he is raising light the chips are valuable to you.

Hand 2, make it 1k to go. You really need to re-evaluate when you are shoved on. How good are the LAG players, if they are smart they probably know an EP raise from you means real strength. In which case when they re-raise you the know the should have a real hand. Given your image however, you are pleading for action, so I don't think you can fold this hand. I don't think I ever open shove though with over 20bbs. Hand 2 is a real tough spot.

[dstir2]

first hand, push. second hand, i'd push as well. my reasoning is as follows. if you haven't had to show any hands and have picked up a good amount of chips in the last few hands, and with your m not above 20, i think you have a huge opportunity to fool someone into calling your shove. it is a definite possibility that someone holding a mid pocket pair or even an a10 or aj will call convincing themselves you couldn't have anything. jacks is too vulnerable of a hand to raise moderately with, esp. from UTG. if you raise aggressively, which is usually recommended your committed to pushing with it after the flop. then taking into account your previous hands, i'd definitely push and pray someone does something stupid.