Cash games

Pocket jacks facing a raise

Someone opens and you hold pocket jacks. The answer depends on who opened and where you sit.

Short answer

Jacks almost never fold to one open. JJ always plays in 33 of the 36 Aced Poker full ring charts against an open.

Against a cutoff open the button 3bets to 7.5bb 60% of the time and calls 40%. Against an under the gun open it calls 70% of the time and 3bets to 7.5bb 30%.

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When flatting is allowed. Aced Pro lesson, 6 min.

JJ against one open, by seat

Spot	JJ
Button vs UTG Close to solver	3bet 30% Call 70%
Cutoff vs UTG Close to solver	3bet 25% Call 75%
Button vs cutoff Close to solver	3bet 60% Call 40%
Small blind vs UTG Close to solver	3bet 60% Fold 40%
Small blind vs button Close to solver	3bet 100%
Big blind vs UTG Close to solver	Call 100%
Big blind vs button Close to solver	3bet 55% Call 45%

These charts assume 100bb stacks and 2.5bb opens. Out of position the small blind 3bets or folds, so it folds JJ part of the time against early opens. Close to solver means Aced built the chart by hand to match published solver results.

Button against a cutoff open

AAAKsAQsAJsATsA9sA8sA7sA6sA5sA4sA3sA2sAKoKKKQsKJsKTsK9sK8sK7sK6sK5sK4sK3sK2sAQoKQoQQQJsQTsQ9sQ8sQ7sQ6sQ5sQ4sQ3sQ2sAJoKJoQJoJJJTsJ9sJ8sJ7sJ6sJ5sJ4sJ3sJ2sAToKToQToJToTTT9sT8sT7sT6sT5sT4sT3sT2sA9oK9oQ9oJ9oT9o9998s97s96s95s94s93s92sA8oK8oQ8oJ8oT8o98o8887s86s85s84s83s82sA7oK7oQ7oJ7oT7o97o87o7776s75s74s73s72sA6oK6oQ6oJ6oT6o96o86o76o6665s64s63s62sA5oK5oQ5oJ5oT5o95o85o75o65o5554s53s52sA4oK4oQ4oJ4oT4o94o84o74o64o54o4443s42sA3oK3oQ3oJ3oT3o93o83o73o63o53o43o3332sA2oK2oQ2oJ2oT2o92o82o72o62o52o42o32o22

3bet 7.5bb 8%
Call 11%
Fold 81%

The button 3bets 8% of hands here and calls 11%. JJ sits in both.

Close to solver BTN vs CO open. 9-handed cash, 100bb. Aced built this chart by hand to match published solver results. It is close but not exact.

Show every hand as text

3bet 7.5bb every time

AAAKsAQsAKoKKQQ

3bet 7.5bb part of the time

AJs 60%ATs 40%A5s 75%A4s 70%A3s 60%A2s 50%KQs 60%KJs 50%KTs 40%K9s 50%K8s 20%AQo 80%KQo 50%Q9s 50%AJo 50%KJo 10%JJ 60%J9s 40%ATo 10%TT 30%T8s 50%97s 50%86s 40%76s 40%65s 40%54s 20%

Call every time

A9sA8sA7sA6sQJsQTsJTsT9s9998s8887s776655

Call part of the time

AJs 40%ATs 60%A5s 25%A4s 30%A3s 40%A2s 50%KQs 40%KJs 50%KTs 60%K9s 50%K8s 25%KQo 50%Q9s 50%Q8s 15%AJo 50%KJo 35%QJo 15%JJ 40%J9s 60%J8s 20%ATo 40%KTo 5%JTo 10%TT 70%T8s 50%97s 50%86s 50%76s 60%75s 15%65s 60%54s 40%44 90%33 70%22 50%

Hands not listed fold.

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Against a 5bb live open

Spot	JJ
Button vs UTG Estimate	3bet 20% Call 80%
Button vs cutoff Estimate	3bet 70% Call 30%
Big blind vs button Estimate	3bet 45% Call 55%

Aced derived these 5bb charts by rule from the 100bb charts. They are estimates. Estimate means Aced derived the chart by rule. It is not a solve.

If they 4bet

Chart You 3bet from the big blind and the button 4bets to 24bb. The chart calls 90% of the time and folds 10%.

Math JJ has 36.2% equity against QQ+ and AK.

Read Some live players 4bet only QQ+ and AK. Against them JJ folds more often.

FAQ

Questions players ask.

Should I ever fold pocket jacks preflop?

Rarely. The small blind folds JJ 40% of the time against an under the gun open. Facing a 4bet the big blind chart folds JJ 10%.

Should I 3bet or call with JJ?

Both, as a mix. The later the opener sits, the more often the charts 3bet.

What about a 5bb live open?

Against a 5bb cutoff open the button estimate 3bets to 15bb 70% of the time and calls 30%. Bigger opens tighten the range but jacks still play.

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