Suited connectors and semi-connectors

[SternSwiss]

I received the following request via pm and prepared a answer to post on wall coz my pm box is full, but it was ay too long an got refused, so I paste my answer here (anonymously, so I let the friend who wrote to me the choice... once I got insulted for posting content of a pm on forum, when I thought it was useful for all)

Would have liked to have prepared a better post but don't have the time for it now and I am sure many insights form other players will come to enrich this basis.

hi Stern m8. [...]

I was wondering, what is your take on connected cards. suited/non suited, 6 top/10 top. etc.
i know it's askin alot, but would u post ?? thx again STL

Hi m8! HAppy to read about your good streaks! Soz, pm box quite full and busy, busy, so no real time to prepare a post now nor even to clean the mailbox. But I still wanted to answer you something.

In tournys, suited connectors are playable as a way to vary your stating hands and keep opponents of balance. Main goal is to see a flop cheaply in late position (or on a table that is systematicallly limping) and hoping to flop a monster. You will toss your hand away most of the time.

Occasionally you might raise in opening position (unopended table), if you are an agressive player, especially with a big stack that allows for some manoeuvering. I would not advise doing that with semi-connectors and anything below 7-8 suited (but that is a matter of personal choice, and any hand can be the agressor if you now what you are doing and when to eventually fold)


In cash games, suited connectors and semi-connected can be lethal. I play them a lot from late pos (or also mid with limping tables), when I can get good odds. You can play more of them coz when you trap someone with a monster (aim that big stacks are in the game, when you chose to play them if possible) you can steal away full chipstacks. Don't over pay with for them and be ready to fold them prelfop if it gets too expensive oddwise: there will be plenty of occasions to play them properly and you get them dealed often, so folding a proportion of them preflop, waiting for the good spot to play them, folding often postflop (unless hit monster or draw with good anticipated odds, that is against a bigstack, that for example you place on top pair or so) and showing the patience of a jackal is the best strategy.

Note that they are much less intersting to play against small stacks. Rule of thumb: big stacks = big implied odds = wider hand selection playable (but don't get complacent and play everything all the time)

To vary your game you can also play it in early position deceptively (raising) but careful, this is more advanced play guidelines:

- early position: raise with s.c. but not too often: there are too many of them. it won't take long to your opponents to figure it out and reraise you often. I'd say go with 20% of them, of course tune if over agressvie reraising table or limping / frightened table

- Middle position: you play more value hands, so you can use more suite connectors, split between raise and limps. If table is tight, don't be afrid to play the small ones, if loose Id's say until 7-8 max.

- late position: play wider, and mostly raises to possibly steal the blinds (of course if not manifestation of strenght before / unopened table)

Be careful calling raises. Best situations is good position after several limpers or after raises followed by several callers, because you get the advantages you need to play these kind of hands:

- Better expressed odds form larger pot

- Better implied odds if good draw (more opponents so more chances that someone will have a hand they are ready to pay wiht)

- Better position


so if table is already opeed, guidelines would be:

- don't call a single raiser

- call raiser in position after two other callers or more

- limp in after two or more limpers

- In the blinds if table, only play them if oyu are getting 2 to 1 odds or better and a minimum of 2 opponents


FINALLY OF COURSE SOMETIMES YOU GET FRUSTRATED!!!! YOu wait to trap and fold and fold, play some and don't hit and the fold some more coz situation is not good and then boooo, the magic flop hits. NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT: more patience is needed.

If you play them too loosely you will bleed. So play coherently and wait, swallow your frustrastions: your time will come.

Sometimes also you will have bad beats against donks going all in on turn (or calling), for example with only 2 outs for a fh then only hand that can beat your flush and hitting it. Happened to me a lot of late. See coping with tilt in such situation, lol.



In general poor players tend to overestimate the strength of suited hands. As you know, it only adds an extremely small percentage to the hand.
Depends on what cards you are up against. Roughly 2.5-4%. Baseline is like 3% BUT relative improvement can be much higher. As usual it depends on all other factors, that's why if you play them cheap and in position the relative improvmeent is worth when you hit, while over playing them is extremely poor play that will have you bleed over the long run.

Usuited connectors or s.c. (one gapers, two gapers) work a bit the same but with less potential so factors like good position, tight table with people folding to raises, little or nor reraising become more important. YOu play them less often but need to play them every now and then for deception and make sure that for your opponents every flop played against you potentially contains a threat. How often to play them is a matter of degree between tight agressive and loose agressive

In tournaments, you have much less occasions to waste your chip stack unless you have a very deep stack, while in cash game you care less: you loose small amounts a number of times (coz you don't overpay for them, right) until you get what you need, play it conceited and largely make up with a big sweep.

Ok, quickly typed, full of typos (soz, not time to edit), a bit superficial coz no concrete examples, but hoping it brings at least some useful info regarding your question...

Cheers m8!

[Tb1rd]

Great post Stern .

If given the chance to limp behind a couple of other limpers, I'll play all the way down to 32 suited. Probably a bad move, but getting in so cheaply is lovely. And it makes any hand you actually do hit seem less viable, IE, 9 3 2 flop, If I bet out heavy from that it looks like I'm trying to bluff, so I'm getting callers. Of course the chances of that happening are slim, but if it's early on in the tourney and if there's enough people limping in, I may as well see the flop.

[tattmando]

good stuff stern m8 . defo food for thought.

[DukeOfDeath]

Now this is what the strategic corner is for!

I'd like to see more threads/posts like this

I think one thing that makes a difference is whether you are at a 10- or 6- seater. Also I think both opponents and position matter, but even more importantly the combination of the two. I'd never limp or flat a small s.c. with a Loose Aggressive player with position on me. Also, how to play them postflop on a varieties of boards is a whole new conversation. Very good take on the subject. I respect you as one of the most *strategic* around. Keep it up!

[CaptainSandy]

Great post, thank you.