Playing suited connectors is not as common of a hold'em leak as some of the other group of hands I have discussed. Still, there are some players who will not fold these hands despite the fact that they are unfavorable in most situations. The only time that they should be played is when the game is loose passive. The truth is that in most typical middle limit games there are rarely enough pot odds to play these hands profitably. The table composition is usually tight and aggressive with no more than three or occasionally four players seeing the flop in a raised pot setting.

There will be a few occasions where playing a suited connector in a raised pot can be a profitable play. My requirement to play one of these hands is when there are at least 4 players seeing the flop, I am in last position, the suited connector is no worse than 5-4, and there is no gap.

The reason for the 5-4 minimum holding that can make 4 different straights, from a wheel (5-4- 3-2-A) to an 8-high straight (8-7-6-5-4). The high end of the maximum stretch connectors is J-10. It can make the Broadway (A-K-Q-J-10) down to the J high (J-T-9-8-7). Having a full spectrum of the straight potential with your suited connectors is important. Straights are more deceptive than flushes and win extra bets as a result.

I rarely play a one-gap suited connector (or the lowly 4-3 and 3-2) in a raised pot. The only time I make an exception to this rule is when I am one of the blinds and the raiser is the first player to open the pot. I can call knowing that the betting will be closed (except if I am the small blind in which case the big blind could reopen the betting with a reraise) and I'll receive excellent pot odds.

One advantage to suited connectors is that you usually have a fairly easy decision about whether to play beyond the flop (this also holds true with small pairs too). Although on occasion you might flop a pair, this is a hand that I am not going to get too excited about and will fold it if I can't improve to anything other than two pair or trips, and the betting is fast and furious. The main reason to play suited connectors is to catch a primary draw - a draw to a straight, a flush, or both. Sure, you might actually get lucky and flop two pair or trips, but you can do this with any hand that is not a pocket pair.

One potential risk that you might make a flush and end up losing to a higher flush. Most poker players do not realize how often this actually occurs in a multi way pot. In fact, when you make a flush there is about a 24 percent chance that another player also made one. Most of the time you are going to end up paying the opponent off because the pot is extremely large. I might slow down when I am raised but I certainly am not going to fold it in a fixed-limit game. Folding the winning hand is a huge mistake compared to losing an additional bet or two. Next time I will continue with off suit connectors and the any two suited hands.