AJ on the button....

[rbear]

Hello,
I'm pretty new to MTT and NL in general, and am trying to learn MTT through freerolls in general. I know this may just seem like a bad beat, but are there any suggestions how i can avoid this in the future.... Any input would be appreciated.

460/2500 left payout at 50
Blinds 100/200
Dealt Hero [ Ac Js ]
mooseman11 folds.
jfarris182 folds.
WinterMag folds.
bigmoneymj folds.
Hero raises [400].
Villian calls [400].
mm168 has joined the table.
Player mm168 has been moved from $5,000 Freeroll(375006) Table #45 table
tm3545 has joined the table.
Player tm3545 has been moved from $5,000 Freeroll(375006) Table #44 table
Taymorza_ folds.
Poker8276 folds.
** Dealing Flop ** [ 2c, Jd, 2s ]
Hero is all-In [4170]
Villian is all-In [3195]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 4c ]
** Dealing River ** [ 8s ]
Hero shows [ Ac, Js ] two pairs, jacks and twos.
Villian shows [ Kh, 2h ] three of a kind, twos.
Hero wins 975 chips from side pot #1 with two pairs, jacks and twos.

I really don't think I can put him on a 2 here. I think i should raise 3x BB to try to steal the blind (which i'm more than happy w/ the fold), and I bet so much to protect a weak pair of jacks which i'm pretty sure i'm ahead with. Don't have much of a read on any player because I was just switched to this table. What did I do wrong?

[runout_mick]

Unless this is an exceedingly weak table, don't minraise. Ever. I read your play as a very weak steal attempt or a monster hand. Either way I'm calling from bb to see the flop with for a small investment.

[rbear]

3x BB solves my problem?

[locutus2002]

The miniraise is unlikely to scare everyone out.

I don't like the push after the flop. The board looks pretty safe for you, and you don't want to give villain an opportunity to lay down a weak Jack. I'd bet 1/2 the pot and hope for a call. If villain pushed I'd have called.

[runout_mick]

3-4x bb raise definitely helps pre-flop, but this early in a freeroll, bb is likely to call with anything.