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Rockrulz1 · High Card Joined: 25 Mar 2006 Posts: 8

Are suited connectors worth playing? I never do well with say 89 or TJ.

CrazyJoeDavola · Straight Flush Joined: 05 Oct 2005 Posts: 393

Suited connectors can be a great holding, you've got many ways to complete a straight and the flush potential is strong. Low suited connectors you're not going to want to pay much to see the flop, so in late position for a minimum bet would be a good play. As you get higher connectors you can play them in earlier positions w/ a minimum bet or later positions possibly if it's raised (small raise) to you. Connected broadway cards can be played much more aggressively depending on the players involved. Suited connectors can turn into a gold mine if you've got a large multi-way pot, just don't over-value them in early position.

dmoore1998 · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 3:12 pm Post subject:

The only thing I would add about playing suited higher cards is that you almost have to look at it as playing them for straight and flush possibilities only. Don't overvalue that top pair of jacks when you've got J-10 or J-Q...because you're likely to have a lower kicker than someone else. And remember that even when you hit 2-pair with them, you've hit 2-pair but that board should scare you if the 3rd card completes any kind of straight because it's more likely that someone is playing K-J into that Q-10-9 when you're holding the 10-9 than it is that someone is playing a 7-5 when the board is 9-8-6 when you've got the 9-6.

mdroz247 · Full House Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 152

Joe really covered everything on them. The best time to play with them is in later position and not having to call more than a min raise. But if your playing shorthanded, sometimes bring them in for a raise if you feel like mixing up your game. If you hit big no one can put you on a 89 suited UTG so they can lead to jackpot pots. Plus if you call preflop it will be cheap and dont have to risk a huge portion of your stack.

matt2411 · Royal Flush Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 559

Heres my thoughts on suited connectors...

at .1/.25 tables... dont even bother, too many people play any 2 suited cards which drops the value of any non Ace flush draw by enormous amounts. When you play at such limits people are playing K2s, A6s, Q4s etc and when you hit your 7 or 8 high flush, you're screwed.

at the .25/.5 tables, they are okay they go up a little in value but still people love to play suited cards. Play only in late position with pot odds better than 5-1. The better than normal pot odds make up for the donkeys. whereas in the previous level no pot odds could help you.

at the .5/1 tables, about the same as .25/.5. but like always... be careful, still lots of donkeys here.

at 1/2 you can get more creative. people are less apt to call large raises because they are better players and you can pull off some sick moves from time to time. I will limp with suited connectors in late position here (and play them in any blind position given pot odds of at least 3-1 or 4-1). I like raising or even reraising with them the most to be honest. Because I will always continuation bet at any flop that looks intimidating. What i have found is, if i can raise a 4x BB bet to 12x or even 16x with 67s or 78s they almost always put me on kings or aces since i play tight, and at the very least AK, so when i continuation bet with an Ace or a king on the board, or junk people usually fold... well those that did not fold preflop to the raise anyhow... as most people do, and when i do flop 2 pair or a straight, and someone catches their ace king or queen, or has an overpair, im going to destack them.

at 2/4 and higher, go by feel, 45% raises, 45% limps, and 10% calling raises when i do play them... I say i would play them about 50% of the time, depending on pot size, and tightness of the player.

deadmoney314 · Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 5:58 am Post subject: button

One thing I'll add is button stealing with suited connectors. These hands normally do well in multiway pots but poorly shorthanded, unless of course you are in position.
When it is folded to me on the button and I look down at one I'll try to steal with it because you can represent a wide range of cards. If high cards come you will take the pot a lot of the time if you didn't get the pot preflop. In addition, your hand is masked when you do hit it.
This is the basic strategy for any blind steal, but you add the extra ways your suited connectors can win pots to the position betting and the +EV for the unusual ways that they win.

CrazyJoeDavola · Straight Flush Joined: 05 Oct 2005 Posts: 393

One other thing, when the table is full of agressive players that really punish limpers you may want to severly limit playing off-broadway suited connectors in early position. At a table like this you'll rarely get to see the flop for a single bet, and in early position 2 or more bets can really leak off some chips over the long haul.

comin4you · Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 3:24 pm Post subject:

I love suited connectors in a multi-way pot, most of the time from late position. And I usually prefer thr 78, 89 variety. A good time to play them shorthanded, or HU is when you really know your opponent. Example from last night, I was playing live and the UTG player had a very obvious betting pattern. He raised to the amount he always raises to with two big cards that are unpaired (AK, AQ, or KQ) everyone folded to me on the button with 7h8h. Considering that I knew his play I felt I had a distinct advantage and was willing to take 60/40 to see the flop. It came down J73 rainbow, and he made his standard continuation-I-missed-this-flop bet. I made a small raise which he called. He then checked the turn (6), I made a big bet and he folded. It's situational as most things with poker, but they really can be lead to good results. Also, when you miss, you've risked a little and can get away easy.

AmplifiedSAE · Two Pair Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 67

If you want further advice on suited connectors, check out Super System. Doyle talks quite a bit about suited-connectors (he really likes them). He plays them aggressively, yet intelligently.

I don't personally play them exactly like he does, but his advice gave me a foundation of how they should be played in different situations.

Zophar · Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 11:42 pm Post subject:

Like others have said, I'd generally stay away from them in early position, EXCEPT if I'm playing shorthanded. Then basically anything goes. I will raise them in later position, preferably lower connectors like 45 56 67 78 because they are harder to detect when you hit a flop with them. Also, it's not uncommon to get callers who have a J or 10 with a higher kicker, so you can get in trouble with 910 10J(don't get me wrong, these are fine hands especially 10J because of the nut straight possibilites, just don't get too enamoured with top pair).

Depending on the table and my image at the table, I will occasionally call a raise with them in the cutoff or button. I wouldn't recommend calling a raise with them in the SB or BB.

Some people like to say that you should see them on the cheap if you can, but that generally means limping in, and limping in is generally a sign of weakness. So, if you are going to play them, play them like a face pair or AK, etc. Be aggressive. Just my opinions though.

This is for cash game play as opposed to tourney play. I will generally be more cautious with them in tourneys early on and if I am low in chips. Remember, these are hands that you should be able to drop if you miss the flop.

jimmyvengeance · Royal Flush Joined: 10 Sep 2005 Posts: 506

I actually like them in cheap cash games and tourneys, but only -- only -- when I'm fairly sure I can see a cheap flop. The reasoning is that when they hit, they hit big, and they're great against the maniacal, loose players that populate the microlimits, particularly when you hit the straight on the flop or turn. A lot of times, you can break a moron who hit top pair.

jimmyvengeance · Royal Flush Joined: 10 Sep 2005 Posts: 506

Double post.

matt2411 · Royal Flush Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 559

playing suited connectors at the microlimits is like playing russian roulette with 4 out of 6 chambers loaded.

because theres a VERY good chance some donkey is playing J3s hoping to flop a flush because any 2 suited cards are the nuts.

bright star · Four of a Kind Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 269

My favourite was when I had 34 and hit a straight flush on the flop 567. Then I just sat back and smooth called the bidding war between 89 offsuit and A flush draw. Turn blanked, and river was a fourth flush card - then Mr A was so dissapointed when his nut flush got beat.

Riddim · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:56 pm Post subject: Re:

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