Jacks or better split?

[boden11]

Was watching rounders (again) and this time since I've been playing holdem for about 2-3 months I finally picked up on just about all the lingo. However when Mike meets his teacher in the bar and gives him the advice of playing only premium hands "Jacks or better split, 9's or better wired" I don't understand the first part...

(I know wired anything means pocket pair). So I went out last night and played some $3/6 at a local card room and tried to play only premium hands. This was more because of the advice Phil Hellmuth gave for beginner limit players of only playing the top 10 hands (listed as AA, KK, AKs, QQ, JJ, 10-10, AKo, and a few others). I wound up folding JQoff twice (both of with never did anything better than give me a busted open ended straight draw on the flop) and A8s which also wouldn't have made it. Actually tho, the only hand I did win was my 34off when the flop had 2 3's in it (was playing in the big blind and noone raised pre-flop). Still managed to make $45 with just that hand even after calling pocket 4s (2 bets) to the flop and pocket 10s.

Is this a bad way of playing? I noticed that in the game there were a couple people also playing very tight (like 1 or 2 others only playing like nice pocket pairs and AQs, A10s). And of course there was the drunk calling station who managed to go to at least the flop despite it being capped with such trash as like K4off and pocket 5s and other fairly worthless hands. But since he did call to the river he did occasionally make some miracle 2-pairs and full houses. One hand he called all the way to the river with AKs despite the fact that he missed any flush on the flop and the turn didn't help him either.

It seems to make sense that when there are loose players calling 2 bets cold with low suited connectors or Ax and sometimes worse to tighten up because of their miracle draws.

[boden11]

Also referring to the hand I did win: "(Actually tho, the only hand I did win was my 34off when the flop had 2 3's in it (was playing in the big blind and noone raised pre-flop)"

Since I was in the big blind and was first to act, I checked the flop with intention of raising once it was bet (which it was), was this a good move or was an outright bet? (I think 7 or 8 of the nine players were in as it wasn't raised pre-flop). I was hoping to trap a couple of players which it did, and was surprised to get one or two callers after my check-raise. The calling station was too drunk to put me on a set of 3's even tho it was pretty obvious (playing in the big blind with a paired board that had been bet).

[dvnielsen]

I'm not all that good on the lingo (partly because english isn't my primary language, but if it should make any sence how about this:

Jacks or better split: JK QA JA offsuit og suited.

9's or better wired: I think wired also means conected (but I could be whong) e.g.: 9T TJ JQ QK KA Offsuit og suited.

The above is pretty much the way I play if I'm playing very tight or need some time to read the game.

Later in the game or with a lot of loose players I tend to play small pairs, medium suited conectors and the like. It all depends on my position and the type of players I'm up against.

Once again I must warn you that I could be wrong.

Oh and taking advice from a movie where McDermont asks for three STACKS of high society and gets three RACKS of $100 chips can't be good

Yours faithfully
Daniel Nielsen

[nicthestick]

I think Split vs wired has to do with 7 stud. in a 7 stud game, you can have your hole cards paired, thus "wired" and wired 9 are better thsn split 9's. dont ask me why. I hate 7 stud.

[dvnielsen]

I think you're right and in the aforementioned movieclip, it would be only logical to think that theyre talking about 7card stud because that was what they were playing at the judges game i my memory serves me right.

Yours faithfully
Daniel Nielsen

[Dave B]

regarding how you played the 43 w/ 33 on the flop-the only difference would be that I may have called the $3 on a 3/6 and check raised after the turn. W/ 7 callers, this may have landed you an additional $40 or so. All the folders to your check raise on the $3 bet may have called a $6 bet before your check raise to $12. Also w/ the pot odds being higher, people w/ 2nd or 3rd pairs may call the check/raise and see the river hoping to see 2 pair.

However, w/ 34, many will play A3-unless the board is something like 339QA you may have kicker concerns. Also-if the board pairs, your are looking for trouble w/ triple 3s. Anyone flopping w/ a set takes you down too.

So I think in your case-you played it right. Check/raise after the flop and if someone reraises play it tight and just call to the river. If I am up...I would probably try to draw out more action, if I am even or down I like to take down pots as quickly as possible. I hate to get outdrawn by slow playing if I am down.

Just to clarify terminology, I think that you flopped trips, not the set. I think that the term "set" is used when you have 2 pocket pairs. You are "set" since others cant easily put you on trips-unlike when the board is paired. Anyone can put a blind on trip 3s if 2 are on the table.

[Leo]

i think jacks or better split means a pair of jacks or higher one on your hand and one open (in 7-card stud that is) and 9's or better wired means a pair of nines or higher in the hole or in the open.

[JimTheBullet]

The open vs wired comment is indeed talking about 7 card stud starting hands.

At the start of a new hand in stud each player is dealt 2 hole cards and 1 up card (there are no community cards in stud). A wired pair is in the hole and a split pair is one in the hole plus your up card.

The comment "split jacks or wired 9s" is perfectly logical as any wired pair is stronger than a split pair because if your trip card comes off for you it is less obvious when you have the pair in the hole rather than the pair showing (similar reasoning to why trips in Holdem is stronger when you have a pair in the hole).

On a different note in this thread - I too have heard it said that trips is only termed a set when 2 of the three are in the hole. I am not sure why this hand is so called but one thing is for sure - it is undeniably a better hand than 2 showing and one in the hole.