Suited connectors in Limit Ring Games

Suited connectors in Limit Ring Games

Those hands can be especially profitable at loose and passive tables – when they develop to a flush or straight. The goal here should be clear: we would like to play against as many opponents as possible on the flop and hope to make a flush draw or OESD.
So, ideally, we’d like some limpers before we act, in which case we can also limp and hope to see a cheap flop with a rather big pot. An early raise would destroy this hope and we should fold if it happens. Although, when two players limp and a third player raises, it is very likely that the two limpers will call that raise, leading to a flop with 4 players still in. So in this case a call with suited connectors is justified.
If you hold suited connectors in late position and nobody has entered, it becomes unlikely to have a multiway pot. Then you face a fold or raise decision: a raise might steal the pot, so that on top of you chance of hitting the flop you get a percentage of fold equity (the more your opponents have shown a tendency not to defend their blinds, the more you should raise here). If you do not feel raising is an option (maybe because the Big Blind usually reraises in defence of his blinds), then you should fold – otherwise the blind steal can become rather expensive.

Ok, now you see the flop, and so do three or even more players. Now what?
At first, you need to see how many outs you have. With a flush draw (9 outs) or a straight draw (8 outs) you should plain check and call – try to see the next card as cheaply as possible, without scaring the other players away. Three or more opponents seeing the flop will almost always give you enough pot odds to take your hand to the river.

If you have more than 9 outs (a combination of outs like a flush draw plus a pair or a flush/straight combination), you should bet and raise for value. When you have an almost 50% chance of making your hand either on turn and river, you should value bet. 11 or more outs will bring you close to the 50% threshold, and if you add a few per cent of fold equity if you bet and raise, it is clear to see that you should not just call now.

Since suited connectors win with a flush or straight most of the time, watch out for boards that indicate that you could still be beaten even if you get your flush or straight:
A boards pair is dangerous, and having two board pairs on the turn or river is a strong indicator that you might be beaten by a full house
If you make your flush on the flop or turn already, watch out for that 4th card of the same suit, since your opponent could beat you with a lone high card of the flush suit.