Do you prefer pocket pairs or suited connectors and why?

J

Jrrazor

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i prefer good cards and of flop to be monster, and another guy to reis cause he have 2 pairs or something and i already have 3 of a kind or something....
 
FoxMS

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The position of the player at the table plays an important role, but in general I prefer pocket pairs. AA, KK, QQ.
 
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Hermus

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Both hands can make money if played properly. Pocket pairs are easier to play so I like them more, but suited connectors make for great bluff combos and pulling the trigger on a big bluff in the right spot is always fun.
 
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fundiver199

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I prefer pocket pairs or more specifically AA, KK, QQ and JJ. I do also like suited connectors like AKs and KQs though. Or the suited 1-gabber AQs. But maybe you mean small pairs and small suited connectors like 44 or 65s? These are actually losing hands for the majority of players, so I dont like them much, and I often fold them.

If I play them, its mostly in late position, when it folds to me, or if I get a good price to defend my big blind. In tournaments the value of small pairs go up, when you get short stacked, and often a hand like 44 can then be a jam, whereas 65s is a fold. This is, because 44 has more equity when called, and when you are all-in preflop, you are not facing difficult postflop decisions like what to do with third or fouth pair.
 
gambit1983

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Suited connectors are over rated IMO unless it’s JT or better.
 
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pwalker4201977

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I definitely prefer suited connectors over pocket pair. Just because I’ve been burned n also made more money with suited connectors than with pocket pairs. You just have more ways to catch something n knock out people who just play pocket pairs.
 
Phoenix Wright

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Generally, I like pocket pairs. I also believe it is worth mentioning (as some have in various words) that suited connectors seem to be more playable at deeper stacked poker, whereas pocket pairs already having "something" makes them better at shallower stacks when shove-fold might even be viable.

The danger of playing suited connectors (even more so than low pocket pairs I think) is the chance of making the second best hand or worse. Let us take and example of 9h 8h

Flop comes a dream for us with Qd Jc Ts

We just flopped a straight with our suited connector. Keep in mind this is a dream board for us, but are we really happy to get too many chips in when the opponent is giving us action?

The opponent(s) could easily have a higher straight and perhaps even outdraw us by hitting a flush (although I intentionally gave a rainbow flop to minimize this for our dream flop).

I don't know if this is justification or not to eliminate playing lower suited connectors entirely, but at the very least it highlights a very real danger.

Conversely, holding a low pocket pair like ducks (22) is more likely to fold in the face of resistance (or shove if effective stacks are small enough). The outs suited connectors offers might just be tempting enough to keep you invested in a pot you have almost no chance at winning.

I'll play anything if the situation is correct though ;)
 
E

easy play

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Pocket pairs for their deceptive value. They both get categorized in speculative hands to be played from late position with deepstack.
 
AizenFalck

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I prefer pocket pair, I feel like you somehow have a bigger advantage playing them preflop than you do with suited connectors. Regards.
 
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Carlloss

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It depends on my chip stack and my position. Short in chips and out of position, a low pair to push it all in right away. In position, and with a lot of chips, I prefer suited connectors, so we can either play bluff when we don't hit or extract value when we hit a monster.
 
eberetta1

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If my pocket pair hit, I would have 3 of a kind. I prefer suited connectors, because if I hit, my flush or straight would beat 3 of a kind.
 
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1nsomn1a

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With premium pairs, of course, it is best, with pairs it is better against one or two opponents, and one-suited connectors are very good in multipots.:)
 
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June4Spades

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Pocket pairs, because they can lead to a full house and that is a much stronger hand than a straight.
 
katifanko

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I love the pocket pairs. It gives you more equity in the pot from the get-go. Suit might not always work out your way. With a dry flop, a pocket pair might just be the best hand in a lot of cases.
 
ztibor72

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High pocket pairs against one player, suited connector if I see flop with more player.
 
T

theStarfish

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I like the big pairs but against a lower pair I would prefer suited connectors.
 
alison

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I prefer suited connectors because it gives you more chance to make straights or flushes








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stank12345

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I prefer pairs as I have more success with them Its too easy to try and chase the suited connectors and lose a lot of money
 
Duxflux

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Do you prefere pocket pair or suited connectors and why?

I would say it's situational. In general, I find the question very good, because I like both pairs and suited draws.

There are certain hands that you should play depending on the position and situation. I adapt a little bit and act intuitively according to feeling.:cool:
 
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63burner

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prefer suited..

Have terrible luck with pairs, despite the probabilities. Suited connectors are my preference, because of all the outs, possibilities.
 
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