Hi all,

I am at the 25NL tables and I seem to have a big problem with JJ & AK/AQ. I know I overvalue thes hands post flop but I just can't seem to work out what to do. Here is summary of the problems. Please let me know what the hell I am doing wrong.

With JJ I generally raise from all positions if I am opening and when there are limpers. If there is a raise in front and I am in LP I will sometimes re-raise and sometimes call. In any other position I will call a raise in front.

The problem comes post flop when the board flops with 1 overcard or rags.

With Rags I tend to bet every street and get called down to a higher pair or better. If I get raised on a rag flop I will usually call and see what the turn brings and see what my oppenent does.

With an overcard I sometimes C-bet but I seem to always get raised or called and then bet/raised into on the turn.

Here are 2 examples of how I played JJ.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($4.95)
BB ($11.85)
UTG ($41.95)
Hero ($31.40)
MP1 ($9.72)
MP2 ($25.65)
MP3 ($38.76)
CO ($4.05)
Button ($3.60)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with J, J. SB posts a blind of $0.10.
1 fold, Hero raises to $1, 2 folds, MP3 calls $1, CO calls $1, 3 folds.

Flop: ($3.35) 6, K, 2 (3 players)
Hero bets $2, MP3 calls $2, CO folds.

Turn: ($7.35) Q (2 players)
Hero checks, MP3 bets $2.5, Hero calls $2.50.

River: ($12.35) 2 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP3 bets $4.25, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $16.60



Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Button ($24.62)
Hero ($23.75)
BB ($20.26)
UTG ($7.62)
UTG+1 ($27.20)
MP1 ($11.70)
MP2 ($21.98)
MP3 ($19.20)
CO ($24)

Preflop: Hero is SB with J, J. Hero posts a blind of $0.10.
UTG calls $0.25, 2 folds, MP2 calls $0.25, MP3 raises to $1.5, 2 folds, Hero (poster) calls $1.40, 1 fold, UTG folds, MP2 folds.

Flop: ($3.75) 8, 6, 9 (2 players)
Hero bets $3, MP3 calls $3.

Turn: ($9.75) 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $7, MP3 calls $7.

River: ($23.75) 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $7.7, MP3 calls $19.20 (All-In).

Final Pot: $50.65

What is the best line with JJ?

With AK/AQ I raise them up Preflop and normally C-bet the flop if I don't hit and will get called and have to slow down on the turn and villain ends up leadng into me and I have to fold. Alternatively I miss, C-Bet and then get raised and have to fold.

I also try to bluff these hands to much, repping a good hand when I have missed on more than the flop. I will end up betting the turn and even the river and getting called and losing.

All this leads to lots of small $2-$4 pots being lost, and the occasional big pot when I have had enough and decide to play the hands strongly with nothing thinking that people are bluffing me. Everyone can't have a hand when they call the flop and raise the turn right? Dumbass!!!!!!

Here are a couple of hands to illustrate my points.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (10 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG ($9.80)
UTG+1 ($28.55)
UTG+2 ($24.75)
MP1 ($7.55)
Hero ($46.80)
MP3 ($23.85)
CO ($4.80)
Button ($40.45)
SB ($29.70)
BB ($24.75)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with K, A. SB posts a blind of $0.10.
4 folds, Hero raises to $1, 2 folds, Button calls $1, SB (poster) calls $0.90, 1 fold.

Flop: ($3.25) 5, 3, 8 (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $2.5, Button calls $2.50, SB folds.

Turn: ($8.25) 6 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $4, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $12.25

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (10 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP2 ($24.45)
MP3 ($27.30)
CO ($4.15)
Button ($4.65)
SB ($43.90)
BB ($4.75)
UTG ($14.25)
Hero ($15.10)
UTG+2 ($10.55)
MP1 ($45.21)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with A, K. SB posts a blind of $0.10.
1 fold, Hero raises to $1, 6 folds, SB (poster) calls $0.90, 1 fold.

Flop: ($2.25) 8, 9, 9 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $2, SB calls $2.

Turn: ($6.25) Q (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $4, SB calls $4.

River: ($14.25) J (2 players)
SB bets $5, Hero calls $5.

Final Pot: $24.25

Now I may have already answered my own questions and know where I am going wrong, in which case please just re-iterate that to me. If not please tell me where the hell I am going wrong and what the best standard lines are for these hands as I know it is the basics that I am getting wrong with these.

By the way I know some of the above hands are awful, hence the analysis of my own play and post to get some help!

Thanks in advance