Poker Tournaments - The Value of Suited Connectors in No Limit Holdem

Everything in poker is situational. This is particularly true in no limit Texas Hold 'em tournaments. The ability to make adjustments is critical to success. While it's hard to discuss hands in a vacuum, in this article we will examine the criteria for playing what I believe is one of the most misplayed of tournament hands- ?the suited connector.

The logic behind playing suited connectors is that you can win a big pot if you make a strong hand and they are easy to get away from if you don't. They have increased value in no limit play where you can win a substantially bigger pot especially if they are deep stacks present. Furthermore, opponents will have a hard time determining the true strength of your hand. So far, so good. Sounds like everything you want in a tournament setting when you need to accumulate chips which is why suited connectors are played often.

In fact, many players play suited connectors too often. Before we get into some of the common mistakes made with these hands, let's look at the ideal conditions for playing these hands. First, you want to see a flop cheaply. Second, you would like to be involved in a multi-way pot in order to increase the odds of getting paid if you make a hand. Finally, and this is a critical factor that is often over looked, you want to be able to see as many cards as possible. Let's examine each of these factors to determine the when and when not to play these hands in a tournament.

How do we see a flop cheaply? First and foremost is the amount of the blinds. The early stages of a tournament when the blinds are cheapest is, of course, the least expensive time to play if you are able to limp in. As the blinds increase, whether you can see a flop cheaply depends on the size of the blinds in relation to the size of your chip stack. Furthermore, with increased blinds and the introduction of antes, the amount of hands that will be raised pre-flop increases greatly.

Equally important is position. The later, the better. You get the advantage of seeing the action before you and with less players behind you, you reduce the risk of someone raising you.

Knowing your opponents' tendencies works hand in hand with position. If you are at a passive table, you may be able to limp in from middle or even early position. Conversely, if there is the presence of even one aggressive player who consistently raises, you will be hard pressed to limp in even from later position if this player is behind you.

Next, suited connectors play well in a multi-way pot. You will usually get the most opportunities in the early stages of a tournament when many players are willing to see a flop when it doesn't cost them much. As the blinds increase, more players will switch to a raise or fold mentality. Again, position is also important. It's hard to play suited connectors from early position unless you are at an extremely passive table. If you are in late position, however, you have the advantage of seeing the action before you. With a few limpers in front of you, then go ahead and limp with 6-7 suited. However, say you are in the cut-off and everyone folds to you. Now, you may want to consider raising with that same 6-7 suited. This will serve a couple of purposes. First, you may win the hand uncontested pre-flop. If you do get called, the true value of your hand will be well hidden. If the flop brings some high cards that don't help you at all, you stand an excellent chance of winning the pot uncontested with a continuation bet.

Finally, let's look at that last factor which is the ability to see the hand through to the river. Why is that important? With a hand like 6-7 suited, it is unlikely that you will hit a monster flop such as a made straight or flush or even a full house. More likely, you will either miss the flop completely or hit a straight or flush draw. Missing the flop completely is an easy fold to any bet especially if you got in cheaply in a multi-way pot. What's more difficult to play is if you hit a draw. Say the flop comes A-7-2 with the Ace and deuce matching your suit. This is a good flop for you in that you have middle pair and a flush draw. However, it is unlikely that you have the best hand at the time. You want to be able to see more cards. An opponent holding an Ace may make it expensive for you to do so. If you both have deep stacks in relation to the blinds and the pot size, then it makes sense to call a reasonable bet. If you make a flush, trips or two pair, you could win a sizeable pot.

This last factor is the one that I find many players ignoring and it leads to terrible mistakes. For instance, let's say a player has an amount equal to ten times the big blind and he is in late position. A middle position player with a big stake makes a standard open raise of three times the big blind. Our late position player calls with his 8-9 suited. Everyone else folds. Already, our hero is in trouble. He's ignored the first two factors in that he did not get in cheaply and he's not in a multi-way pot. That's not his biggest mistake, however. He's not in a good position to see this hand to the river. The player who open raised is almost guaranteed to make a continuation bet no matter what the flop brings. If our hero hits a flush or straight draw, he's going to be put to a real test of whether he wants to play for the rest of his stack. Say the flop comes K-J-4 with two of our hero's suit. Does he want to risk the rest of his stack when he is a likely underdog. That is just not a good position to be in.

The flip side of this is that pushing all-in pre-flop with a suited connector is not a bad move when you are short stacked. Ideally, you would do this when still have enough chips to force others to fold. For example, in the above example, if the action was folded to our hero, moving all-in would be a better move than raising three times the big blind. By pushing in, he gives himself the chance to win pre-flop. Even if he is called, he is guaranteed to see the hand to the river. Suited connectors are never that big of an underdog to just about any other hand ?if you can play it to a showdown. Next time you receive suited connectors, don't fall in love with the hand but rather consider all of the circumstances of whether it's worth playing. In the later stages of a tournament, you can squander a lot of chips by paying to see flops when you are likely to face big bets post-flop. Think not only of what it will cost you to see a flop but the turn and river as well.

David Apostolico is the author of numerous poker books including Lessons from the Felt, Lessons from the Pro Poker Tour and Tournament Poker and the Art of War.