Playing (suited) connectors

[mirage]

Topic for discussion -

What is the most +EV way to play connectors (suited or unsuited) at small stakes no limit?

Should we often raise with SC's, or try to limp? Should we cold-call with SC's? If we do cold-call, how many players should we look for to be in the pot to make it a profitable play? Should we sometimes 3-bet with SC's and hope to hit a monster?

As for Post-flop play, should we bet our OESD's? How much (in relation to the size of the pot?) If we flop OESFD, should we push by default, make PSB's to the river, or play passive?

What if we hit top pair on a ragged flop? Should we value bet?

The reason I ask is because looking through my PT stats, I seem to have trouble playing connectors properly. It looks like I don't give them up easily enough PF or post. Definitely a weak area for me.

Help me out TP!

[kedoran]

Limping is almost never good as its hard to get payed when you hit your hand because the pot will be too small, people dont want to go broke in a 3bb pot.

For me its usually raise or fold, if someone limp infront I raise not to get it HU against him but to steal the weak money tht just a call usually is, and to get initiative on the flop if someone call. I do CC sometimes in position if I think the pfr has a big hand and maybe if someone else overlimps, here I might squeese alot aswell if the original raiser has wide range and caller is weak. (you probably win alot more just taking it down preflop over time.)

Post flop is alot more read dependant, you can push draws if you think he fold enough to make it profitable, if your up against someone who calls to much your better off just trying to hit it cheap then get payed when you do (though you usualy want to cbet just to juice the pot and everyone folds sometimes).

[ugignadl]

Depends on the table, the hand, who you are up against, who is left to act, stack sizes, and more.

I would say that against random opponents at small stakes you are much better off raising any scs in late position, on the button raise almost any 2, and play aggressively postflop. This is also the quickest way to get reads on your opponents, and also the quickest way to induce action in the table.

At worst they raise you, much more often they fold, and every now and again they call your super combo draw and you win lots of money.

[sfustsh]

SC, my favorite hands, I'm glad this post is here.

They play best from last position (all cards do, but ESPECIALLY SC). Always raise with them for disguise if you plan to play them. If you are not confident about your postflop play, folding is certainly acceptable from an objectively weak hand. Occassionally call a raise with them for disguise as well, you should be able to easily outplay your opponents when you know exactly what they have.

What you are looking for, first of all, is a straight. Preferably a double gap straight: 478 when you hold 56 or 468 when you hold 57. Very deceptive. But more often than a straight you will hit a simple pair. If the board is like 378 and you have 67, you will likely have the best hand. The standard raising range for most players includes more non-pairs than it does pairs, so most of the time you are ahead, since the flop whiffed your opponent (great to know that, isn't it?). He will c-bet and you will raise and if he shoves you can fold because you're behind to his Jacks+. Most of the time, though, you win.

The next huge money maker for SC is when you get called down a few cards and make a BACKDOOR flush. A flush with two cards on the flop that connects on the turn or river has less value, most players see it. The BACKDOOR flush is never picked up on and pays off every time. But remember, you CANNOT be afraid to play your non-nut flush aggressively! Just remember, if you're headsup (which you should be, since either you or your opponent raised PF), it is very unlikely for him to have a flush too!

Here's the big one, two pair on the flop. Naling 56 on a 56A board is a huge profit right there, ESPECIALLY if there's two of a suit. You KNOW he paired his A, and you KNOW he's gonna play strongly with the draws on the board. He might even shove all-in on the turn. Great, unless a J hits on the turn you will definitely have the best hand. Even in those rare events where he has one of the two remaining fives or sixes, gamble anyway, you can't put him on 2 pair if he shoves at you. Most of the time, he will do the betting for you. With lots of apparent draws and his hand completely revealed you cannot help but win a lot of money.

I love these hands.

[nlman]

I don't think raising SCs from the early positions is +EV. I usually just fold those. Even if you do hit, you won't have the position advantage.

I generally raise those only to blind steal from the late positions (i.e. with no limpers). Raising those with limpers is -EV in full ring games, I think. Since PFR% is so much lower than in 6-max, most hands people limp with are worth calling with (i.e. they limp with the hands they would raise in 6-max). So, your bet will get called, then your continuation bet will get called and you'll end up throwing away your money.

The only reason I would raise those from early positions or first in would be to vary my game.

If there are enough limpers in front of me, I just limp in with them and if someone in late position raises, I'll call the raise depending on what the limpers in front of me do (if everyone folds to a sizeable bet, I'll fold as well since calling will get me heads up with no position advantage).

[neverthink]

Good topic, I wrote a little about my style in my Jerry Maguire mission statement flip out moment, but I'll add it here.

I never touch offsuit connectors from any position unless I am completing from the small blind, for the simple reason that you are usually drawing to only 6 outs and not 8. Nearly always there will be a flush draw out there, so 1/4 of the outs that can complete my hand could make bigger hand for my rival(s). So plain old connectors are in the muck for me. I value suited one gappers a lot more (and they are in fact more valuable).

I raise whenever I play, in fact,the less likely I am to make a hand the more inclined I'll be to raise it (figures right?). Case in point, 3 limpers ahead and I hold KJo, I just limp in behind, but if I hold 67s, that's a definite raising hand. Nobodyelse has shown strength, so I'll assume it until told otherwise. One thing I never do is coldcall with them though, though it may be profitable,as I could play sets and draws the exact same way (I coldcall with all pocket pairs). If you want correct odds to see a flop thats raised, you need two in it with you, usually the BB will call if you and raiser are in ahead I find anyway.

Post flop I always believe that the optimum bet is about 70 percent of the pot. Raised or lowered slightly depending on whether you want a raise or to increase fold equity. HU and 3 way I play them agro even if I wasn't the preflop raiser, more players than that and it has to be a big combo draw, at least a gutshot staightflush draw for me to shove it in.

I have been thinking about betting larger both to increase fold equity when semibluffing and to make sure that when I bet big with a set it can be paid off. Think about playing sets and draws the same way as you flop each about the same percentage of the time, so your frequencies won't be effed up, plus you want a big pot with a set, and you want a big pot with a draw on the end so they are committed if you get there.