The Real Value Of Suited Connectors

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Suited connectors are widely misunderstood hands. A while back I wrote an article called “How Suited Connectors Cost You Money.” In that article I talked about a common way that many people misplay suited connectors, and how it costs them money. This article is also about suited connectors, but here I’ll focus more on how to play them profitably.

A common misconception about suited connectors is that they are “multiway hands.” The idea is that if you hold a hand like 6 5 , you want nothing more than to have six people in the pot with you. Some people even take the idea so far as to say that they’d rather have 6-5 suited in a seven-handed pot than pocket aces.

The reality is that suited connectors are okay hands in multiway pots, and only okay. Their obvious upside is that they can make straights and flushes, hands strong enough to win big pots. But they have a few problems also:

1. Small suited connectors make small flushes. Getting beaten by a higher flush is extremely expensive, and in some circumstances you’ll be reluctant to play for stacks even if you make your flush.
2. Small suited connectors make small, vulnerable two pair hands. Two pair is an important hand in hold’em. If you make two pair with a hand like A-T, you often have a hand strong enough to play for stacks. But if you make two pair with 7-6 in a pot with many opponents, many times you will be too vulnerable to escalate the betting. Not being able to get good value for your two pair hands is a significant drawback.
3. Suited connectors usually flop draws, not made hands. If the flop betting gets big, the player with the suited connector may not be able to continue and may miss out on making his hand.

Compare the hand to a small pocket pair. Pocket pairs make sets which are also strong hands that can win big pots. But they are stronger multiway hands on all three counts. If the board pairs you usually won’t be worried about losing to a bigger hand. Instead, if someone makes trips you can win a lot with your full house. Also small cards don’t make pocket pairs particularly vulnerable. Even a set of deuces is a strong hand that you can usually play happily for stacks. Finally small pocket pairs flop made hands, not draws. Either you hit your set or you don’t.

Small pocket pairs are unquestionably good multiway hands. Suited connectors, on the other hand, often end up having to play scared when many players see a flop.

So what are the strengths of a suited connector?

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