Hi Ais ... I think I would play this one differently ...

I'm in the small blind getting dealt JJ99. I don't like putting in a raise simply because I'm first to act when the flop hits.

Since I did raise though, and on the flop I'm being bet at by a tight player who doesn't get out of line, I can assume the play is coming out like this. LP: "Raiser has a high pair or a wrap ... probably aces ... if I call and hit ... maybe I can take his stack."

In this instance I would be putting villain strongly on 2 pair minimum, probably a set, and at least a blocker for the flush draw if not a better one himself. I guess I'm basically saying that post-flop, I'm counting on a hit to make my hand and take down the pot. I'm not entirely sure that even hitting my card will work, as it's possible I could be outdrawn.

I think overall here, I'm probably calling the flop bet (maybe), and then folding. I really don't like this hand in early position, facing action, and relying on a hit (a 15-outer albeit) ... which may or may not take down the hand if it does. I figure I've got 7 clean outs, giving me about a 30% chance for a nut hand. Really, I wanted to set it or forget it on this hand ... rather than face down a relatively weak draw against a made hand and a possibly better draw.

Of course I'm a passive-weak-tight nit, but you know.

I can see the possibility of villain holding a wrap, in which case we may be alright since we're holding blockers to his play. 2-pair still being a possibility of course.

I guess in the overall getting the stack in isn't a huge mistake against villain's range ... but I'd be sweatin' doing it, and probably expect to lose the pot.

Yeah, one of the "opening up" aspects I've been trying is raising a lot more OOP--I'm VERY picky about AA because I think the raise typically hurts your action if you do make your set. But I've basically started raising a lot of strong hands OOP, and this is definitely one of the hand types where I like a raise PF pretty much regardless of position.

Basically, with position I'll raise more hands and certainly a lot more AA hands. OOP I'm raising much stronger hands and only AA hands that have a lot more going for them than AA (pretty much AAds with a connector is enough, but I consider that very strong AA).

I'm more concerned about the post-flop aspects on this hand, though. I suppose one can still call and then bet upon hitting set (despite straights), flush (despite its not being the nuts) or straight (which is of course always the nuts). I think it's also fairly safe to assume that pairing the 7 or 8 reduces my outs to the point that I can't call the turn, but pairing the 2 (while bad against his actual hand) might put me ahead in actuality, because I definitely think top 2 is in his raising range.

I did just run some AA hands with hearts, and in the best case, I'm about a 2:1 underdog. What's interesting is that I think the lower level players (particularly at the 100 level) are less willing to raise with that--well, maybe in a HU pot. But it's MUCH worse for my hand than his set, where I'm really not in bad shape. I may even be a little ahead of 2 pair on the flop unless he has a decent straight draw with it (that kills at least one of my set cards).

I respect raises from any player with a PFR of 5%-12% ... (this is 6max) ... I like mine at about where it is ... because even though my number looks low ... the raises aren't AAxx hands ... although that's what I want to be put on by any observant opponent who sees how much I DON'T raise.

I was trying to raise a LOT in late position with playable hands, but found ultimately that it was costly as I wasn't able to continue in enough hands to pay for the raises.

The JJ99 hand I would raise in 3rd position or better. I don't think I raise anything from the SB or BB unless it's a re-raise to make it a stack play with AAxx.

Fortunately, in this game ... it doesn't really matter that much if you play well post-flop.

Back to the topic at hand ... you said you were more interested in post-flop than pre-flop play on this hand. I think I still maintain that I would be waiting for a better spot than to risk my stack oop with a drawing hand. Looking at the equity numbers your posting though ... maybe I'm underestimating the hand value overall. I'm getting the idea here that as long as you've got 40-60 buyins in your bankroll ... you may as well push here just cause.

Postflop looks fine, I think we're mostly going to be in coinflip situations, and rarely ahead or behind.