WHEN TO PLAY SUITED CONNECTORS

Suited connectors don’t always generate the attention they deserve, but they probably ought to.

It can help get some players out of a sticky situation in the big blind and win more from a pot. Unlike small pairs, a suited connector in Texas Hold’Em, for example, can lead to some hairy post flop situations, but they should help with your range.

We will show how you can win money when you play suited connectors, and we have supplied some proven elite poker strategies that should put you on the right path to success.

INTRODUCTION TO SUITED CONNECTORS

Suited connectors are a great way to bluff or semi bluff an opponent if you are in the late position in a poker game.

Ideally, a suited connector is ideal if you boast better hands, as you will want to put your opponent on the back foot and squeeze them in the process.

For those unfamiliar with poker terminology, suited connectors will be two cards of the same rank that are consecutive in rank. For example, you could place bets in the preflop when you are holding a 7 of Hearts and 6 of Hearts.

Let’s now dig a little deeper and assess the value of suited connectors when you put forward poker chips in a game.

HOW MUCH ARE SUITED CONNECTORS WORTH IN POKER?

If anything, the value of suited connectors, and how they are played are understated. Of course, you can use a free poker cheat sheet to glean more insight to see how to win a big pot.

That said, you should always consider your position in the short stacks and deeper stacks, and this is something we will explore in more detail later in this guide.

But if you can play very powerful hands such as a flush or straight in the big pots as well as produce some semi bluffs, then the suited connectors will carry huge value when the stack size increases.

More often than not, your opponent will be squeezed if you play within range, and you can start crushing small hands seemingly at will.

TYPES OF SUITED CONNECTORS IN POKER

A suited connector is formed by two cards of the same rank and in consecutive order. Below, we have provided a few examples, but be aware that they differ from pocket pairs and a two pair, such as A-A, which is considered to be a premium pair:

• Straight flush
• Royal flush
• Full house
• Pocket aces

HOW TO PLAY SUITED CONNECTORS

At this point, you may be wondering how to play suited connectors and win a big pot. Well, poker comes with varying stack sizes as well as stages, such as the preflop, raise, river, and streets.

The idea in this section will show you when to hit and how to play in range to make the most of your bets.

PLAYING IN EARLY POSITION

Remember, when utilised properly, suited connectors carry greater implied odds, and they can create telling semi bluffs against short stacked opponents.

So, for example, playing a 9 of Hearts and 8 of Hearts aggressively preflop may not have much value if you intend to start winning fast.

Rather, they are more likely to hit the flop hard during the middle position in a game against your opponents. While it is important to seize control of a pot for a big blind, you don’t want to risk doing something that will cause a losing play, such as making a preflop raiser at the wrong time.

PLAYING ON THE FLOP

Suited connectors can create semi bluffs against opponents during the flop or post flop stage. Of course, an effective stack size is a must for any given game if you are to win.

So, for example, you may be holding very powerful hands such as Jack of Clubs and Queen of Clubs in the middle position of a big blind, and the tight player decides to make more bets when the flop comes in at Ace of Clubs, 8 of Spades, and King of Diamonds. This is the prime opportunity to raise on the flop if you have the best hand to extract more money if you are holding big hands.

CHANCE OF MAKING A STRAIGHT

The implied odds of landing a straight will depend on the stack sizes, and the pot odds will also be a factor.

To make things easier, we have created a table that shows your chances of making a flush when you hit in the preflop or after the fold.

Inside straight odds

CHANCE OF MAKING A STRAIGHT DRAW

Now, let’s assess the chances of a straight flush draw when a raise has been made in one of the blinds during the flop.

Open-ended straight draw

PLAYING AFTER THE FLOP

If you are playing after the flop, you will want to make a confident raise and with strong hands to win money from your opponents in the blinds. We have looked at how you can play suited connectors to bolster your pot odds.

BLUFFING

This can be counterproductive against someone who doesn’t like to fold. Bluffing should be used if you are confident you can squeeze your opponents.

If you are playing at an online casino, then hit enter to confirm the selection of chips you wish to make during the blinds.

SEMI-BLUFFING

Players that are tighter in the middle position of a game or play semi pro won’t mind pulling out a semi bluff in a bid to win. However, be aware of any cards that could trip you up before you make your play.

FOLDING

Sometimes, there can be a temptation to overcall when you play in an effort to hit the craved straights and flushes in the blinds. But while folding may be seen as a sign of weakness, it is one of the main reasons players will do it, so as to ensure they don’t lose more chips if they don’t have a good hand.

WHAT TO AVOID WHILE PLAYING SUITED CONNECTORS

If you are going to play effectively, you will need to be armed with an advanced suited connector strategy. We have provided an overview of the key pointers, and these will be applicable whether you are in the embryonic stage of the game or you wish to advance your poker career.

• Be careful with a continuation bet – If you made a less aggressive play in the previous position, then don’t go overboard with trying to land a pocket aa, as you could lose money when you try to hit.
• Folding too early – A fold can be beneficial to limit losses, but if you fold too prematurely, you will just play into your opponent’s hands and be picked off easily.
• Don’t overcall – Although you may wish to draw in earlier positions, overcalling can be a bad move if you play with connectors, unless, of course, you find yourself playing in a big pot.

EXAMPLES OF PLAYING SUITED CONNECTORS

If you can draw some of these connectors, then you will be on track to win money from the pot:

• 9 of Spades and 8 of Spades
• 7 of Hearts and 6 of Hearts
• 5 of Clubs and 4 of Clubs
• 3 of Suits and 2 of Suits

SUIT CONNECTORS ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMPLEX HANDS IN TEXAS HOLD’EM

Much of the power with connectors comes when you flop hard on a draw, and it can make a big difference to how much you will take from the pot.

However, they can be some of the most difficult hands to obtain, especially if you are playing out of position. If you are in need of inspiration, a free poker cheat sheet will be useful if you want to win a big pot.

BEST MID STAKES POKER GAMES IN ONLINE CASINO

These kinds of poker games are all the range, and they will have deeper stacks to tempt more advanced players to part with their cash.

Among the types of games you will come across for Texas Hold’Em that fall under this category, will be 200NL through to 600NL, so make sure you have enough bankroll before you begin to play.

CONCLUSION

To play suited connectors effectively, you need to be rather fearless, but also opportunistic as to know when to strike while the iron is hot. Of course, to fold is perceived as a foible, especially if you do so too early.

But if you can avoid the premature fold and play within range, then you can reap the benefits, and you could put your opponent on the back foot. Have a try today and see if you can scoop some big hands!