Unsuited connectors

I have been learning Hold'em for about two months, from scratch. I am reading two books: 'Playing Poker to Win' by Andrea Shavick and Dan Shavick and Phil Gordon's 'Poker Box Set'. The general impression I get is that you do not play Unsuited Connectors. I say that mainly because the emphasis is on playing Suited Connectors with no reference to Unsuited Connectors.

I would appreciate some guidance on this as I want to get it right. I spend lots of time practicing and cannot resist betting pocket cards of 9s 10d, or the like.

Thanks,
Emrys Davies.

Read all the books you want and they will tell you what cards to play. Does it really work? Some times. Look at how Gus Hansen plays and it goes against everything in the books. He raises with 8 3 os!!!!!!! I know you said you are just learning but I will give you 2 tips. best hands to play, 77-AA and AJ-AK suited. yes you can lay them down, I have laid down a set of aces to a persons flush.

My second tip, Don't worry so much on the cards you have but worry more on what you THINK your opponent has. If you feel he has AA and you have 7 2, with 2 pair on the flop, bust him, sandbag and destroy. I read one book when I was younger, I played by it and lost. I watched countless videos of pros and watched them at the casino and seen their style of play. It may be donkey plays, but they are winning donkeys. You have to mix up your play so as not to be predictable. If you are raising or only playing good hands by the book, people like me will call with 7 2 os and hopefully bust you.

Play the player not the cards in your hand, get reads or tells on people. I have had people bluff big dollars at me for me to only call with a low pair to his busted straight, I told him he has K J and he showed me. He never got into a pot with me after that. Another kid tried the same a few hands later I had a set of 9's and there where 4 spades on the board. I had no flush he bet about $85 and I called, I never put my chips in the pot because I knew I had him beat. I can't say it enough, It's the only game where you don't need a good pocket hand to win. Take down every hand without a showdown and your golden.

One last example. I called a pre-flop raise in the BB. check called the flop, bet the turn and on the river I went all in on a busted straight. I knew the player wouldn't call but with $200 in the pot and another $250 for him to call, he showed the he flopped a pair of aces and mucked them. He thought I had a set and I showed the bluff.

People may disagree with my play and that's ok. I play my style and like it.

There is something in what you say, PokerTramp, but that style is much too advanced for Emrys, who is just starting out.

Emrys, the simple answer to your question is no, don`t play ten-nine offsuit.

There is one exception, however. If you are in late position and several other players have limped in, so that you can see a cheap multiway flop by flat calling, do so.

Mostly, you will miss and can fold, having invested very little. Since there are several players in the pot, the odd occasion when you hit your straight should give you enough of a big win to more than offset the series of small losses when you miss.

Take the advice on playing said cards in a limped pot while your in LP but the short of it is that suited connectors have a better chance to make a hand than off-suit connectors for obvious reasons.


edit:This should be moved into strategy