How to play suited connectors

Suited connectors are hole cards containing two cards that are numerically concurrent and the same suit (such as the seven and eight of clubs). This is often discussed as a starting hand because some players love them and consider them strong hands, while others loathe them or simply dont know how to play them effectively.

Strengths

The strength of suited connectors lies in their ability to grow into very big hands. They offer strong straight and flush possibilities, although you should understand that these big hands are not easy to make.

Therefore, suited connectors are best played with a larger number of players in the pot so that, if you actually make your long shot hand, you have a good chance of finding an opponent who has caught a piece of the action and will pay you off. When played against a single opponent, you will often find your opponent folds at the merest whiff of a flush and leaves you with very little payoff for your lucky break.

Weaknesses

The flop is the real test for this hand and you should try to see it as cheaply as possible. If you get a flop that helps your hand and gives you four cards to a flush or a straight, then you are very likely to stick around for the turn.

However, if the flop doesnt help you then it is unlikely you are going to pay to see another card. Remember, because you are facing multiple opponents, bluffing with this hand is rarely a good idea. You might bluff one person, possibly even two if you are lucky. But with three or more opponents, someone is likely to have hit something on the flop and will be calling your bluff.

And when to fire from the hip

Of course, if you do hit your monster hand, then by all means bet. Try to build a pot, and with multiple opponents in the hand someone is likely to push some chips in the middle and pay you off.

So playing suited connectors is all about picking your spots and making careful decisions about when to stay in the hand and when to quit. Learn to master this hand and it will become a valued part of your poker arsenal.