3 MISTAKES to AVOID when playing suited connectors

Suited connectors can be profitable when played correctly, but a lot of people make mistakes with this tricky hand type. Whether it’s pre-flop, the flop, the turn, or the river, knowing how to play anything from 78s to 23s will help you to win more chips.

The biggest common leak is overvaluing these hands. Yes, they can turn into straights and flushes, but they’re far from premium. Play them in the right situation and you can be a winner, but avoid bad situations.

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These are the top 3 mistakes that you need to avoid when playing suited connectors in Texas Hold ‘Em poker.

1. Calling too often pre-flop

Sometimes you just gotta let it go.

Especially if you’re in early position and there’s a lot of players left to act, it’s just not worth it. Even limping from under the gun can put you in a bad position. The button is going to have a much wider opening range, but you’re still not going to be able to call even a min-raise with your suited connectors from early position.

If you’re in a later position, like the cutoff, you want to fold less often. Play your suited connectors sometimes, especially if you’re not under pressure, but don’t just call them off every time.

On the button, you’ll get to call with the widest range. Now, for instance, it makes sense to call with suited gappers vs. an under the gun raise, but it’s still not worth it to call with 23s or 34s. Keep in mind that you might also want to 3-bet some portion of the time with your better suited connectors from late position. Just don’t splash too wide! 2. Playing draws too aggressively on the flop

If you’re in position but lacking the range/nut advantage, you should rarely raise. Even if you’re on the button, you still shouldn’t always raise, especially if you don’t have a more premium hand.

Out of position, it can be worth it to raise more often with your draws, but you still don’t want to make that move every time. Be less inclined to raise with high equity draws that have to fold to an all-in shove.

Remember, you don’t always have to take the aggressive action with your straight draws.

3. Failing to bluff on the river when you miss

Don’t chicken out!

You knew getting into it that you’re trying to draw toward a flush or a straight. Even if you miss on the draw, you still want to consider your range and your opponents range and figure out if there’s any way you might get them to consider themselves beat.

The only way that you can win on the river with a busted draw is by making that big bluff. We’re not saying you should always go for it, but sometimes it’s definitely worth it!