Small Suited Connectors in Texas Holdem

One of the most deceitful hands in all of Texas Holdem are the small suited connectors. Played correctly, they can make you a tidy profit, and the fact that a lot of your opponents mishandle these hands is something you should take advantage of.

If you watch a lot of Poker on TV, you will see a lot of the players bet with hands like 56 or 67. The benefits of playing small suited connectors in Texas Holdem is that they are very easy to muck, and when they hit, they give you a lot of options and are difficult to detect.

For example, a hand like 67 is something you can limp in with, and if the flop comes up with 274, you have a pair, and given the texture of the board, is unlikely to have helped anyone else. Here the obvious Texas Holdem strategy is to bet on the turn, as you stand to make the set or even two pair.

Playing small suited connectors also provides you with other possible hand combinations. For example, holding a 65 on a flop of 652 gives you a two pair. On this kind of board, you will find yourself in good position to make a lot of money. If someone was holding KK pre flop, he will think that everyone missed the flop and will likely make a big raise.

The Texas Holdem strategy to use here of course, is to call the raise. You may also want to make a re raise or go all in. The reason is that if you slow play the hand and wait for the turn, you might get hit by a K.

You will have to use a different Texas Holdem strategy if you flop a straight draw or the flush. If you are holding 67 and you get a 85Q on the flop, you will may want to limp to the turn. If you get the four to a straight you can either bet hard now, and make your opponents think that you already have the hand, or bet to the river.

When playing small suited connectors. your Texas Holdem strategy has to consider that they are, well, small. There is the chance that your opponent will have a bigger pair or two pair.

If you are drawing to the flush with these small hands, you need to make sure that you are in no danger of being beaten by the higher flush. Keep these things in mind and you will have no problems playing small suited connectors in Texas Holdem.