Suited Connector Theory

[zichilseby]

Why is the theory of playing suited connectors such a big topic, why are they so great a starting hand???

also,

why is it that if i win a hand with suited connectors people say good hand, but if i win a hand with suited 1-2 gappers, i am frowned upon, 9-10 diamonds is a good hand, why isnt say 9-J diamonds or 8-10 diamonds? dont they have the same straight possiblities?could someone shed some light on this subject for me please?

Basically i am asking the question

What is the difference in strength between suited connectors and suited 1-2 gappers?

[HeaterHand]

Generally I think suited connected are overrated. It all depends on the table and game you're playing. Suited connectors are generally hands that MAY become the best hand after the flop so you're gonna need to get some good pot odds or expected value to enable you to play them correctly. Anything else and you're just gonna blow ur bankroll.

[shorty]

Suited connectors are great hands to limp into a pot with or even raise with from late position. Not good for calling big raises or reraises with preflop. 1 or 2 gappers are good, but I would stay away from 3 gappers unless you can limp with them. 3 gappers can get you in trouble in a multiway pot.

[StatueKid22]

I'm not sure if this is why I bust out every once in a while online but I love playing suited connectors with a raise preflop.

If a player in in the first positions and raises and it folds to me, I will always call with suited connectors for one reason. If I hit the flop I know I'm good most the time.

Good online players will raise with TT Hands in early position and I know that they hold a Pair or two big cards. If one of my cards hit on the flop and it's checked to me, I make them pay to chase.

However, I was watching Daniel Negreaneu play in the main event and I think this kind of thinking helped him bust out. He had 10 8 off and his opponent flopped a set of 8s which was also top pair for Daniel. He ended up pushing in for his tournament life and busted. So always be wary of top pair with suited connectors but remain aggresive if you hit.

[babyreid]

i like suited connectors, they tend to be good to me, plus people sometimes think its always the highest cards that are worthy but alot of the times you can trick people with connectors, they think they are good cause they assume people go into hands with only high cards

[theOMEGAN]

Suited connectors rock and use the ladder of progression when it comes to hand rankings. Pairs jump the ladder and often fall to there lure of sets and houses. but broken connectors are only worth it in late position where you can basically stall limp them.

[overtop69]

In my experiences and personal opinion low connectors are ok to limp with, or call a small raise. Position plays a big part in this though, early position is just too risky unless it's early in a tourney. On tables it's a no-no early. If in late position you have a better read on what the other players have so you can strech them a little further. High connectors....ten and above...have more power pre-flop and can be bet aggressively. Again, use position in determining strength. Remember that suited does not mean gold, so don't overbet either.

[PokerXanadu]

With suited connectors, there are a lot of possible outcomes to with the hand, making them very playable (especially top half of the deck): top pair, two pair, straight, flush and hitting low to middle trips against an overpair. Semi-connectors aren't quite as strong as there are less ways to make the straight with each additional gap between the two cards.

[Fatalist]

Suited connectors are fun and are generally easy to get away from. Calling raises with them is a not a good idea though. 67 of hearts is not as good as that AQ of hearts that raised when you are along for the ride on a 4 to a flush flop. :p

[PokerXanadu]

Originally Posted by Fatalist

Calling raises with them is a not a good idea though.

A good general rule, but not always true. For instance, if your opponent obviously has a big hand like rockets, you are likely to get paid off big if you play your suited connectors and hit it as it is a hand your opponent is unlikely to put you on when you call that raise. There are lots of implied odds to playing suited connectors - it is the hand that plays the best against a big pair.