What is the best way to play a big pair pre-flop?

Playing Texas Hold’em, from a middle position, you are dealt a pair of Queens. That’s regarded as a made hand; it could win without further improvement. You raise preflop to reduce the size of the playing field, and are called by three opponents.
Great, so far!
Now the flop. Aw shucks! An overcard falls – a King. How good is your hand now? If an opponent has connected with a bigger pair, you have only two outs to improve your hand. So what is the best way to play a big pair in the hole before the flop?
A Typical Example
Let’s look at a slightly different situation: In a $4-$8 limit game at a full table of nine players, you are in a middle position, and have been dealt J-J; that’s a premium drawing hand. If no overcard falls on the board, your pocket Jacks could hold up to the showdown; but, quite often, it must improve to take the pot (more so, of course, with smaller pocket pairs).
What’s the chance an opponent has been dealt a higher pair? With J-J in the hole, the odds are about 8-to-1 in your favor that none of your eight opponents has a higher pair. Most likely you hold the best hand preflop. This often is confirmed when no opponent raises preflop. (Discount a raise by a “maniac” who could raise with almost anything!) You are certain your pocket Jacks is the best hand so far.
Preflop, you properly decide to raise, hoping to force out any players behind you who hold A-rag, K-rag, or Q-rag, thereby protecting your J-J, and gaining a better chance to win the pot if an Ace, King, or Queen should fall on the board.
On the flop, there are three overcards possible that represent a serious threat to your J-J. Suppose an Ace flops. With eight opponents, the odds are at least one of them has an Ace in the hole. Likewise for a King or a Queen. According to Tom Green’s “Texas Hold’em Poker Textbook” (visit: www.PokerTextbook.Info), with eight opponents, the probability one has another Ace in the hole is 79.6%.
Odds are 4-to-1 in favor. And, of course, the same applies if a King or a Queen falls on the flop. So, if an overcard to your J-J falls on the flop, you are likely to be in trouble. So now what? It depends.
Caution
If an opponent has caught an overpair, you have become a big underdog, with only two outs. In making your decision, it is important to know your opponents; what kind of player is each? How does he play his hands? Any betting patterns?
If a tight player, especially in an early position, comes out betting, you would be wise to fold – rather than chase him all the way to the river. (Chasing is expensive!) His overpair (assumed) has you beat!
If the bettor is deceptive (“tricky”), a call is appropriate; he may not have the overpair he is representing. In fact, if no one else has called, consider raising him. That could serve to isolate him should everyone else fold. On the other hand, if there’s a bet and raise before you, a fold likely would be the smart move. Even if the “tricky” player is bluffing, the raiser most likely “has the goods.”
Bottom Line
Starting with a middle pair, like J-J, in the hole, raise preflop to encourage opponents with higher cards to fold. Then pray for no overcards on the flop. Be extra cautious if there is an overcard to your pocket pair. Consider the type of player who is betting/raising and the pot odds; then decide whether to fold or call.