Suited Connectors

[MetsFan259]

Is it generally a good strategy to play suited connectors 45+ in almost any position in SNG?

[taipan168]

Of course each situation is different, but as a generalisation, I play suited connectors down to 65s early in the tourney (say blind levels 1-3) for a limp when I'm on the CO or button and there is at least one (but preferably more) limpers in front. If it is folded to me on the CO or button I might make a standard open raise. I like them a lot more from the button than from the CO and hate playing them from early position (unless I'm in the SB and everybody limps in which case I'll complete).

If somebody has raised in front I generally let them go (unless it's a minraise, I'm in the BB and lots of people call).

Oh, and I include QJs and JTs as suited connectors. Some people would argue that KQs is too, but that's a discussion for another time.

[FlyingSaucy]

as a general rule, I fold suited cons preflop in almost all situations except a CO, button or SB limp, wth 2 limpers ahead. Or in the BB with a minraise and a call ahead.

[baudib]

no, it's not.

[bruinblue]

in fact this is one of the quickest ways to get into trouble in an SNG. taipan id have just referred to your SNG guide - im calling that the Bible for beginning SNG players.

in general suited connectors are somewhat OK only in pots with at least four people preferably more, with everyone limping in, and you MUST HAVE POSITION.

lastly, if you have 87s and the flop comes 832, DONT get aggressive!! with suited connectors, youre looking for straights, flushes, trips and two pair. nothing else

[taipan168]

lastly, if you have 87s and the flop comes 832, DONT get aggressive!! with suited connectors, youre looking for straights, flushes, trips and two pair. nothing else

Well said, and if you happen to flop bottom two pair (say you have 87s and the flop comes A87 with two not of your suit), DON'T SLOWPLAY!

[bruinblue]

uh taipan i dont think you can flop bottom two with two of your suit... if you do id start to wonder what site youre playing on =)

[taipan168]

uh taipan i dont think you can flop bottom two with two of your suit... if you do id start to wonder what site youre playing on =)

The same site where the best hand is 5 of a kind, aces!

[bruinblue]

man what site is this???? i havent made 5 aces since i was playing with penny 5 card draw with wilds!

[taipan168]

This is the post that bruinblue was referring to:

http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...oker-41170.htm

[taipan168]

man what site is this???? i havent made 5 aces since i was playing with penny 5 card draw with wilds!

Jokerstars, obv!

[TLR]

As with everything in poker it depends.

usually low SC are not worth, since if you flop a str8 it will be the idiot end of it.

With mid SC (78+) your goal is to see a cheap flop, hopefully with multiple limpers and get out if you dont hit the flop hard.

What you dont want to do with SC is bleed chips by limping and then having to fold to a raise. Also postflop you will sometimes hit a flush/str8 and you want to be in LP to have a better understading of where you stand.
This implies that you want to throw mid SC away preflop from EP and on aggrssive tables and you want to limp them from MP-LP, and sometimes SB.
Raising with mis SC from LP when it is folded to you is not a bad move - once in a while - if you pick up the blinds thats good, and if you get called and hit the flop your hand is well disguised.

The biggest problems beginners have with SC are:
1. Limping them and then calling raises preflop because they already invested money in the pot
2. bleeding cheaps by limping from EP and folding to raises.
3. flopping TP and not knowing how to handle this hand postflop. It was said here that you play them for 2 pair at least, and the importance of this cannot be stressed enough.
4. Not knowing how to play them post flop when you have draws.
For example you hold T9d
flop is K78 rainbow - you usually want to play this hand by pot odds, only chase if it is cheap
Flop is K78 2 diamonds - you have 14 outs if villian has TP or 2 pair, if you are raised coming over the top is not a bad move
Flop is T87 rainbow - now you have 10 outs, 8 for the str8, 2 for trips. The 9's are not clean outs since they put 4 to a str8 on board so we can discount them.
This is one of the situations that require very good post flop skills, but it is usually not bad to open bet here vs one opponent