Suited Connectors, Early Position in Low-Stakes Cash Games: What's your strategy?
dannystanks
Visionary
Silver Level
If you are going to play anything from EP you should raise, don’t limp. Depending on how tough your table is will depend on what hands you should be playing from EP. Generally I’m folding a lot from EP and playing maybe 66+ AQ+ but that is a big “generally” because it’s going to depend on a lot of different factors, my opponents, my chip stack size, where we are in the tournament, is there ICM implications, etc. Never base your decision on just cards, look at all the factors involved. Good luck!
F
fundiver199
Legend
Loyaler
Small suited connectors should be folded from early position. At an 8-handed MTT table with antes, the bottom of my range from UTG would typically be something like JTs, as far as connectors go. If you want to go down to T9s or 98s, it does not matter to much. But if you also open hands like 76s or 65s, its definitely to wide, and you are just setting chips on fire.
eetenor
Legend
Loyaler
Cash games are always about table dynamics---How does the table play,
will they let you limp 87s and then stack off when you have the nuts?
Can you limp but post flop have to fold to max agg? If you limp will the whole table limp meaning your flush draws are dominated?
If you open do they all call? Again flush domination. If you open will your V play face up post flop and will they over fold?
Playing connectors OOP is about how good are you post flop? Study post flop play deeply- have a large edge on the table and then play
Easy thing to do is fold preflop but if you want to play post flop study the above.
pentazepam
Legend
Loyaler
If someone shows proof of winning with low-middle suited connectors from early positions over a large sample, I want to get invited to that game.
Position is key for playing suited connectors because you need to extract maximum value when you hit. After all, they don't hit that often, and control the pot size if you choose to draw. You, of course, also have to bluff some rivers and semibluff some flops and turns. Always easier to do that in position (usually after the opponent checks).
There is a reason most charts look something like this (Lojack - 100BB deep):
Position is key for playing suited connectors because you need to extract maximum value when you hit. After all, they don't hit that often, and control the pot size if you choose to draw. You, of course, also have to bluff some rivers and semibluff some flops and turns. Always easier to do that in position (usually after the opponent checks).
There is a reason most charts look something like this (Lojack - 100BB deep):
dreamer13
Legend
Loyaler
Limp/reraise is so obvious with AA or KK that people fold right away and you only win a small pot.What position do people lose the most money from? Most of the time it's the big blind because it's very hard to play out of position and make a profit when you have to pay 1BB every time. By limping, you're almost creating a second big blind position.
eetenor
Legend
Loyaler
Just to go deeper into strategy.
When you show a standard chart that chart exists because of the ranges of players left to act and the assumption they will not be passive. This chart is not based on V who make huge preflop and post flop mistakes and who play passively with too much of their range on all streets.
This chart is not the most effective vs players who over fold or who allow EP to realize 100% of their equity (you have to see all streets for 100% Equity)
when studying charts it is more important to understand what your V are supposed to be doing vs your open. You do that by looking at their charts--for instance---this chart has us not open 55 why? What are the V behind us doing that 55 is not an open but 66 is? If the V do not take that action why would we not open 55? If the V are not taking the action that makes 55 fold why then cannot we play 65s profitably?
There are reasons not to play 65s post flop ---that is what we want to study- how does our range interact with the table dynamics.
uesleisuptitz
Enthusiast
Silver Level
I’m pretty new too, but from what I’ve learned, suited connectors in early position can be tricky. Limping might let you see the flop cheaply, but it also gives other players a chance to act after you and maybe raise. Raising can help you take control of the pot and maybe even win it right away, but it’s risky if you get re-raised. Folding is safe, but you miss out on the potential big hands those connectors can make.
Honestly, I think it depends a lot on the table and the players, but a lot of people say raising or folding early position is better than limping because limping can get you into tough spots. I’m still figuring it out myself!