Suited Connectors in No Limit Texas Holdem

Playing suited connectors is definitely an interesting proposition in No Limit Texas Holdem Poker.  It can also be interesting in Limit Texas Holdem, although not to the same extent. First off, what is a suited connector?

It is a hand that is both consecutive in number and of the same suit.  Examples are 5♥-6♥, 6♥-7♥ , 8♥-9♥, etc.  When you get to J 10 and above the hands are not referred to as suited connectors any longer.

Suited connectors are best played in large pots, whether it is No Limit Texas Holdem or Limit Texas Holdem. When playing suited connectors in Texas Holdem, you want at least four people, and preferably more, to see the flop.  With suited connectors you also want to catch a big flop right from the start.  A big flop in Texas Holdem when playing suited connectors would be a flop that gives you a flush, straight, or either of the two draws.  Obviously the best position to play suited connectors from in Texas Holdem is late position, but they are worth seeing a flop with if a lot of people are in the hand.

In Limit Holdem you are going to get more of a chance to play them than in No Limit, simply because in No Limit Texas Holdem you can get raised right out of the pot.  The other problem with a big raise in No Limit Texas Holdem is that it will drive most everyone out of the pot and suited connectors are best played when you have multiple players in the pot.  Remember that suited connectors are nice hands to play when you hit the flop.  They are not good hands otherwise.  Think of it this way.  How do you like your 7♥ 8♥ against a J10, A5, etc?  You just have an 8 high.  If you miss the flop, the hand is not any good.  It is a drawing hand, best played against a lot of players because you want to hit a big hand.  It is not a good hand to be playing heads up, especially if you are facing a raise.

There are obviously exceptions to playing suited connectors in No Limit Texas Holdem, just like there are exceptions to everything in Texas Holdem.  There are no absolute rules.  Suited connectors are okay to play on the button pretty much all the time unless you are facing a huge raise.  You might also change up your play and take a shot with them in early position only for the fact that it enables you to shed your “tight” image on occasion.

Suited connectors are definitely best to play when you get in cheaply.  They are not good hands to play when you are facing large raises.  Just remember that previous example of the 7♥ 8♥ and think of it as an 8 high.  You don’t like an 8 high against a hand like AK, AA, KK, QQ, etc.  You do like the hand if you can get in cheap against a full table.

Suited connectors are what some people call trapping hands.  They can trap your opponents into losing all their money if you hit your hand.  They are not big hands; so don’t play them as such.