no-limit holdem suited connected cards

A

ARTIST

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
May 29, 2008
Total posts
2
Chips
0
Can anyone tell me when it is the best time to play with these hands?.
Someone told me "play them at the beginning of tournaments". I play mainly tournaments as i enjoy these most of all. Any help would be appreciated.
 
WVHillbilly

WVHillbilly

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 7, 2007
Total posts
22,973
Chips
0
You want good implied odds to play SCs usually. So let's say you play them whenever you can win 20 times what it cost you to play them. For tournaments this is usually only true when stacks are deep and blinds are low (in other words at the beginning of the tourney).
 
Vollycat

Vollycat

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 2, 2007
Total posts
341
Chips
0
I'm a real nit, so I don't agree with playing these early in tournies--unless you have late position and there are many players already in the hand AND you can get in cheap. The blinds are low and there isn't much money to get paid with.

These hands play best in multiway pots. Wasting a lot of chips in the early rounds can weaken your stack so that when stealing opportunities come when a steal is actually worth something. Very deep stack, I suppose I can understand a bit--but then again I'm a nit, especially early in tournies.

Anything under AJs, AQo, or TT many times will go in the muck. I feel that I can outplay people later when there are more chips in the middle then gambling with the bozos that are abound in the early rounds of tournies.

If I lose with AA early vs 57o, then so be it. I played it right. But spending 300 chips trying to chase something down and still having to fold on the river with 8 high sickens me.
 
t1riel

t1riel

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
May 20, 2005
Total posts
6,919
Awards
1
Chips
16
Can anyone tell me when it is the best time to play with these hands?.
Someone told me "play them at the beginning of tournaments". I play mainly tournaments as i enjoy these most of all. Any help would be appreciated.

Playing them at the begining of tournaments is ok as long as the blinds are low. That doesn't mean calling raises with them. They are usually good to play when the pot odds are too great to pass up and you have a good stack size. But, they should be played occasionally (maybe even rarely), not frequently.
 
Tammy

Tammy

Can I help you?
Administrator
Joined
May 18, 2005
Total posts
57,536
Awards
11
US
Chips
1,170
Mike Caro wrote a great article about suited connectors for Poker Player Magazine. You can read it here.

Basically what he boils it down to is that you want to play mid-range connectors in position, depending on the type of opponent you have at the table. You don't want to get cute with them if you are at an aggressive table, but take advantage of what he calls the "loose and timid" player. Either get in cheap in a multi-way post, or try raising in late psition in an unraised pot. Read the article though, it has some great info.
 
Munchrs

Munchrs

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
May 25, 2007
Total posts
1,935
Chips
0
I like to play them early in tournies coz if i hit I will usually get a big stack and go far, the downside is if I miss alot then I will usually bust early, SC's add to varience so unless you can handle bigger swings I wouldnt suggest playing them if you dont know how to play well post flop.
 
sisko

sisko

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 8, 2008
Total posts
82
Chips
0
early or late doesnt matter i think, play them when lots of people are in game. late in a tournament call if no raise. if you hit, most of time nobody will suspect you having a flush or staright, especially if they are lower than 9. then you can collect pot. but i play them when there are at least four people in
 
danny021

danny021

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 5, 2008
Total posts
119
Chips
0
You can play suited connectors early or late in a tournament... it depends on the situation.. what your position is.. has anyone raised? if you have good pot odds to call make the call... suited connectors are hands you love to see pots with... you could win a huge pot if a flush or straight hits, but you also can't overvalue these hands... you can easily be beat even if you hit top pair as you have a low kicker and you could lose a lot of money if you chase draws... if you have an open ender a gut shot or even a flush draw, remember the odds are against you of hitting it so if someone makes a big bet, you might want to lay the hand down... but yea if you get good odds on the call always make the call and see the flop.. but be cautious
 
K

kyle while

Rising Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 6, 2007
Total posts
15
Chips
0
i like to play them all time because if you get lucky you can win a big pot against aa or kk
 
J

jokerjay311

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 9, 2007
Total posts
85
Chips
0
id say always take the odds of calling into consideration, but ive found that those suited connectors can be killers to over pairs cause some cant fold kk or aa.
 
Live Dealer Holdem - Texas Holdem Poker Rules
Top