Playing Suited Connectors

For any poker player, if you have been playing the game for awhile you have a specific strategy that you often play by. You may also play with either an aggressive or tight style which is common amongst many intermediate players. This particular styles normally only stay in hands that are strong from the start and plays aggressively both pre and post flop. While playing tightly and aggressive often allows many players to win hands successfully more advanced players will increase the amount of hands they actually play which will help to vary their game play. Learning how to play questionable hands including suited connectors is a good way to improve your overall poker skills and elevate your game.

While many poker hands have the ability to profit over time suited connectors are often preferred by players versus a questionable hand. Reason being is that suited connectors have several possibilities for creating an excellent hand such as straight, flush, or straight flush. They also are great for surprise hands such as getting two pair or trips which is imperative for luring your opponent in.

Another benefit of playing suited connectors is they are one of the easiest hands to play. They serve as a great drawing hand and often the only requirement for how to play them correctly is to understand what your pot odds are and when to draw. Like with all drawing hands typically suited connectors are best when playing from a late position because it gives you the ability to observe the action from all the players before you allowing you to plan your action accordingly. This will also give you the upper hand of gathering information about the current pot count and any other factors that come along with acting late versus acting first.

To Play or Not To Play

If you are a good poker player should already know that the drawing odds of getting a flush will be 4:1. This means when playing suited connectors that if you flop either a straight draw or a flush draw that you are in good standing if you have two or more players also calling the bet. Keep in mind to always observe how other players are playing including those who choose limp in before you decide whether or not to play your suited connectors.

Normally you should hope for as many limpers as possible including those who are considered loose players. Having less than 3 limpers should be avoided due to it reducing the amount of potential callers and the fact that it will hurt your pot odds overall. This is why playing from a late position such as on the button or the cut off are great spots for playing suited connectors.

One of the biggest reasons why you should never play suited connectors form an early position is because you are 8:1 to flop a straight draw or flush draw and 6:1 to flop either or. This would mean that your chances of flopping either are unlikely to happen very often so you will want to have as many players as possible included in the hand for when you do. Again this is why playing from a late position behind several limpers is important and is the safest way to play suited connectors.

Strategize After Seeing the Flop

After seeing the flop the simplest way to play your suited connectors is to either call or fold. If the action offers good odds for you to either draw a flush or straight then you should do just that. If there are other factors to consider such as strong betting from one or more players, drawing on the low side of a straight or other things along these lines you will want to take the time to analyze your position in order to make the best decision. However, for the most part your play should be straightforward.

With common tight aggressive player strategies you may choose to bluff depending on your position. By bluffing you be able to pick up more pots where the odds for you to draw are scarce but by your play you have the impression that you are playing a very strong hand scaring other players into folding. Semi-bluffing can still work out for you even if you get a couple of callers due to them having a weak hand by only calling and not reraising your original bet. However, be careful to not to fall into a trap by a smart player who knows that you may have a piece of the flop but he has a strong hand and instead of you luring him in he’s trapping you.

Suited connectors can be excellent cards to play if done so correctly. If you understand how and when to play suited connectors properly they can and will make you money. You need to choose the situations that give you the best pot odds possible for good drawing hands and to be aggressive about your play. If for some reason the pot odds are not good you should be ready to fold and save your raises or bets for a better hand.

Another thing to keep in mind is when to reveal hands and when not to. Many advanced players will always much their hands if everyone folds to their bets but others choose to randomly show a good hand as well as a bad. Playing suited connectors can be a good starter hand so players often will bet preflop hoping to hit on the flop however if they miss they will continue to bet in hopes of making others fold. If for some reason you do win the pot with a crappy hand you may show so players get the assumption that you are a fish or play crap. Next round when you have a great hand you have better odds of players calling you in hopes that you are the one who is bluffing and their semi-decent hand will beat yours.
Overall suited connectors can be great starter hands and build from there just don’t overplay them at the wrong time.

Posted by Joel on Apr 29 2010. Filed under Poker Strategy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry