PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP1 ($29.25)
MP2 ($102.50)
CO ($93.50)
Button ($46.15)
SB ($103.15)
BB ($95.00)
Hero (UTG) ($204.00)
UTG+1 ($163.30)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with J , J
Hero raises to $4.00, 2 folds, MP2 raises to $14.00, 4 folds, Hero calls $10.00

Flop: ($29.50) Q , 8 , 4 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $16.00, Hero calls $16.00

Turn: ($61.50) 4 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 checks

River: ($61.50) 3 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $56.00, Hero ?


Villain is an unknown, only been at the table one rotation.

Regarding PF, I hate four betting with Jacks as I have to fold to a shove against anyone but a maniac - and there are certainly a lot of good flops for jacks, not including a set, so I don't hate my call, but if you have an argument for a fold or shove, I'd love to hear it.

Check folding with one over on the flop seems a bit weak, but I don't really love my call either. I'm thinking raising here would definitively tell us where we stand in the hand - but on the flip side, if he flats us, the pot is so bloated on the river, what do we do?

Him checking behind on the turn then potting the river tells me he either has queens full, or a hand I could beat (AK, <TT).

Thoughts?

I am not knowledge enough to be really giving you a solid responce. BUT.. seeing as I did do some research on poker and I remember clearly in Daniels book on JJ, is the following:

They are usually overplayed: They seem like the cards that are not good enough in the big picture yet strong enough not to fold in face of danger. Also another thing is: If you have a pair than the chances of someone else having a pair is bigger (Poker VT, Math example).

All in all, seeing as you do not have a read, and it is jacks. I would Fold here as there are AA, KK or QQ (and thus a full house), or just simply QQ, or a different two Pair which can beat you. And seeing how he's betting, i'd say he started with either: AA, KK or QQ. Which he, if he was not bluffing, kind of gave away at the preflop raise.

If you'd know more about the player, it'd be a different story.. But too often have I lost simply because I also was new at the table and misreading the other as (semi) bluffing. Getting a proper read is annoying when just at the table. I might have possibly folded on the flop against MP's bet.

When you're OOP all options on the flop appear terrible. Folding to one over is too weak when he could c/bet worse, and calling seems weak because you have no clue where you are. Then if you raise, you may know where you are but if he continues in the hand you're likely drawing to ~two outs. So I like the check/call, to be honest.

With no reads I fold this river. If I knew something about his style, that he's capable of big bet bluffing and trying to buy pots, I'd snap call. His check-behind on the turn and then river bet doesn't necessarily mean monster - the board's very dry, so pot control could be his primary concern, and then when you check the river he may figure his AQ or KK's good for another bet.

This seems like a big A to me. I think you played it well and I would call the river, if he has a Q or KK, AA then you just got a little unlucky and lost the min. with your Jacks, but he doesnt have to have you beat to play his hand like this.

Why is pot-controlling with those hands (KK-AA, AQ) necessary here? It's 3bet pot where he has TPTK+. He should like to get it in. It would be paranoid to put hero on set based on flop action (c/c such a small bet with set would be mistake). He might pot control with KQ though.

I agree with OP here that river bet is monster or hand we beat. So question is: how often does he get out of line on river?

Do we like blocking bet on river?

I actually like a bet of about 1/2 pot on the river. Fold to a raise.

I think I snap call.

Villain's range and action to me seems like AK AQ JJ TT 99 KQ

PF: Folding pf to the 3-bet is OK, calling is OK too. You can read hands quite well, so I'd tend towards calling.

Flop: Call is fine. You could alternatively donk out flop but if Villain calls and you check a blank turn, your hand becomes quite transparent.

Turn: Check is standard.

River: On a blank river, I'd block bet $25 and if Villain shoves, I'd fold. As played, this is a tank and then call. I don't hate a fold either cos I think given the range of hands Villain could have, the EV of calling is not much greater than zero. Hope you made the hero call here.

Who was Villain btw?

I actually folded. As you said, I figured it was neutral EV to call or fold, so I went with the fold. Meh.

Villain was Hustler088 or Hustla08 or something like that.

I like the way you played it but I call the river. It's far from definitive though.