How would you play this hand (part 1 of 3)?

Question

You're in a live, community-sponsored MTT with a $75 buy-in, starting with 3000, ~70 people.

Blinds are up to 100/200, just under 50 people are still in, pays to 8. 9 players at your table. Tournament chip leader is over 12000.

Your table image is aggressive, but not too loose; you still fold more than you play, but not by a lot. Table's been generally quiet, with a healthy mix of raising and calling, most hands seeing a raise preflop, only a few hands making it to the river. There hasn't been much all-in activity, other than Seat 1 just taking a hit last hand for most of his chips to Seat 9, who used to be the short stack.

The chip count at your table is approximately:

Seat 1 (SB) - 625

Seat 2 (BB) - 2600

You (UTG) - 3900

Seat 4 - 1800

Seat 5 - 2100

Seat 6 - 1000

Seat 7 - 8100

Seat 8 - 6300

Seat 9 (D) - 3400

You get dealt a JJ, and you're first to act.

Answer 1

i make it 600 to go

Answer 2

I really enjoy limping with Jacks and Queens, especially in early position. I've won so much more money and lost so much less this way. I feel I have great post flop play and know where I stand more often than not.

I would re raise a raiser if it seemed they were just making a high Ace bet. If I raise instead of limp, the only callers I get more than likely have an Ace King or Queen in thier hand. Thats too many over cards I don't want to see on a flop. Also being first to act, If I raise, whomever calls its tough to get a read on them because they are calling my bet. They could have Queens and call and I'd be crushed. If I limp and I let them raise, then I can judge what range of hands they are raising with by the size of the bet. That same guy that has Queens will probably raise for me,and I would know I'm posibly behind, and save some money. Right now, it's just a pair. A great starting hand, with 5 cards to go.

Flop brought a Queen, I'm glad I limped. Saved some money.

Answer 3

Put most of your chips in, it's an excelent hand. Or try going all in, which can obviously turn out in 2 ways=

1) People fall for the "bluff", you win the meager pot.

2) People don't fall for a bluff, and then later once the river shows up, you blast their rear ends out.

A technique I like to use (not sure if it's official or not, but this is what I call it) luring the opponents. Keep on making minimum bets to try and make other players put in more chips, then you have a high chance to win.

Answer 4

wtf are u talking about!

Answer 5

Well you have to make a nice raise here for sure. You have decent chips here so far and this could be a great spot to get some more chips, or it could be a good spot to go broke lol. But either way you make a raise to 800. This bet is enough to limit the field against you, and it also does not put you in danger either if you get a ton of action behind you either. I don't think you just push all in here since you have to many chips to do so, pushing all in will only get marginal hands to fold, and it will only get you called by hands that have you cruhsed as well. Plus by just going all you you have taken away your ability to bluff and outplay them on the flop. Since you are opening the pot there is no way you can or should limp in here since you have so many players ahead of you, plus the fact you are going to get an ace . king or queen on the flop over 40% of the time, the less players in the pot, the better in this spot. Only if the table was playing super aggresive would i even think of limping in this spot. So 800 is the right bet here to open.

Answer 6

Raise 200.

By raising 200 you are giving off a confusing image of what you have by not raising what would be known as the "traditional" amount

The real reason in this scenario though is that seat 1 is likely on tilt, this being said a raise of 200 is perfect as if seat 1 goes all in, you can pull a squeeze play on anyone else that might have called your 200 bet. (the 200 bet leaves seat 1 with 225 if he were to call so it would likely either fold or go all in)

Being heads up with seat 1 is what you would like to happen, you're only really afraid of AA, KK, and QQ, and that would be a h**l of a rebound hand for Seat 1 to get.

The only way you fold in this situation is if your 200 bet is met with 2 good sized re-raises, then cut your loses and fold the hand.

Answer 7

Raise about 700.  This will force seat 6 to raise all-in or fold and force the sb to move all-in (he's already committed by his blind.)  Since the table has been mostly quiet you can be pretty sure the rest of the table will fold and you'll be in a good position up against 1 or 2 players.  Even though 7 and 8 have large stacks they'll likely fold to let you take the other two out.

Answer 8

Standard raise of 3-4 times the big blind.