Suited Connectors

Hey everyone, theres something I've been getting a little confused about at the moment and I was hoping someone could clear it up for me.

I've read a few posts from people saying you should play suited connectors and semi-connectors on the button and maybe even in the SB position. The reason being that you could hit a flush draw, straight draw or even both on the flop.

Surely though, this is going to be an incredibly risky strategy because if you do hit the flush then theres a good chance someone else hit it too with higher hole cards then you, in which case your gonna be loosing a substantial ammount of chips to them.

Therefore, I would play them looking for open-ended straight draw value only, and maybe steal the pot on the flop if I miss. This being the case though surely I should also play unsuited connectors and semi-connectors from the same position?? No-one ever seems to mention these though.

Why do people value suited connectors so much?

not saying this is gospel but for me the suited connectors offer an advantage in that while they can hit a straight (just as the unsuited connectors can) they also have the possibility of a flush or even a straight flush. it's these extra outs / possibilities that cause me to value suited connectors higher than unsuited cards.

you make a good point in that there may be someone else out there with higher suited hole cards - this can be minimized by playing the higher connectors ie: 6 or 7 and above, reading the board (if you have 89h and the board is AT3h then the number of cards that can beat you has been reduced) and the players - it's usually clear what people are betting - it's not going to matter what value cards you have if your opponent is betting TPTK and has no cards of the flush suit in his hand. I know these are oversimplifications and yes you have to be much more careful playing a low flush but in the right circumstances it will pay off.

hope that makes some sense...

Originally Posted by Irisheyes

Hey everyone, theres something I've been getting a little confused about at the moment and I was hoping someone could clear it up for me.

I've read a few posts from people saying you should play suited connectors and semi-connectors on the button and maybe even in the SB position. The reason being that you could hit a flush draw, straight draw or even both on the flop.

Surely though, this is going to be an incredibly risky strategy because if you do hit the flush then theres a good chance someone else hit it too with higher hole cards then you, in which case your gonna be loosing a substantial ammount of chips to them.

Therefore, I would play them looking for open-ended straight draw value only, and maybe steal the pot on the flop if I miss. This being the case though surely I should also play unsuited connectors and semi-connectors from the same position?? No-one ever seems to mention these though.

Why do people value suited connectors so much?

I can fold when I hit a lesser flush, which isnt that common. I can also destack AA with a straight, two pair and sometimes a flush. Into multiway pots, I can usually take two pair for a good chuck if I make a draw. I even sometimes enjoy a good pair to win a preflop raise + continuation bet from an obvious AK.

-'rilla

suited connectors and gappers are a must

Fnord says: Flush on flush is freak.

You seldom will be beat by a higher flush. It's usually relatively easy to tell when you are and you can fold it.