Sunday
Oct192008
Playing Non-Suited Connectors in No Limit Texas Hold em Sit n Go's
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Playing non-suited connectors, especially in NL Sit n Go's is a pretty specific topic and a strategy that you are not going to use every day. Still it, is a play that many online players do not think of, and the beauty of non-suited connectors is that when they hit, they are nearly impossible to detect. Most of your online opponents are totally oblivious to the fact that a straight draw is on the board, while they will see a flush draw nearly every time. Internet players will play ANY two suited cards, but they will often overlook the power of two connecting cards.
First of all, by non-suited connectors, I am talking about hands like 9-T or 6-7. Possibly 5-6 in some situations, but like suited connectors, the more you stray down into the low card territories the more likely it is that if you do hit a straight, you will lose to someone with a higher straight. For most purposes, I like to go no lower than 6-7 off suit.
These cards combos are not ones that you want to play strongly pre-flop. Nor are they ones that you want to mess with at a really aggressive table. These are card combinations that have a relatively low chance of hitting, so you do not want to spend a ton of chips to see the flop. You want to limp in with these or not get into the hand at all. You are also better off playing them early on in a Sit n Go because you are less likely to be raised all-in by a short stack and you have to commit far less of your chip stack this way. In other words, if the blinds are $15-$30 and you have $1500 in chips, you can see a flop pretty cheaply as opposed to when the blinds are $300-$600 and you have $3000 in chips. The time for this play is early on. You are just taking a shot at getting lucky.
So, the texture of the flop is crucial. It will tell you whether to stay in or get out. If it comes something like A-J-3 then you run for the hills. Remember, this is a slash and run type style, not a head to head one. Don't try and bluff with your 7-8 off suit here, someone has an Ace! Every once in a while I watch a player lose a lot of chips in a situation like this and type into the chat box something like "I was trying to represent a hand!" Dumb. In online poker, early in a SNG, you don't make this play, someone has you beat.
Anyway, you are looking for a big score, so the flop has to be perfect. The only time you might think about stealing is if it is a total orphan like 9-4-2 rainbow. The other players in the hand probably have some type of over cards and if the action is checked to you, you might be able to steal the pot with absolutely nothing just because no one else hit any piece at all. You can try this, but dont get carried away. If you get caught, abort. Just because you feel your opponent has nothing, it doesnt do you much good if you have nothing (and not even a high card) as well.
If you hit your flop. You are golden. I suggest slow playing in most cases. The only time you might put on a little pressure is if you feel there is a chance that someone could draw to a higher straight on you. For example, you are hold 6-7 off and the flop comes 8-9-T. You have better get your money in and quick, someone could be holding a Jack. Also, in this case, you had better make a probe bet of 1/2 the pot to see if you are already drawing dead against someone with Q-J. This is a perfect example of why it is better to play high connectors than lower ones. However, if the flop was 3-4-5, then you are pretty safe slow playing.
One thing you have to always be aware of with a made straight is flush possibilites. If there is a flush draw on the board, assume the worst and drive that hand hard. Your opponent may eventually make his flush, but force him to risk alot of chips to do it. If he has a brain he will realize that you are not giving him proper pot odds to pursue it and fold. If not, you did what you could. There is nothing worse than hitting your hand and having someone draw out a flush on you.
There are a few other aspects of playing non-suited connectors that you need to be aware of and we will discuss these tomorrow. For right now, get comfortable with the idea of occasionally playing these hands and if you get in the right situation, they can be quite profitable.
First of all, by non-suited connectors, I am talking about hands like 9-T or 6-7. Possibly 5-6 in some situations, but like suited connectors, the more you stray down into the low card territories the more likely it is that if you do hit a straight, you will lose to someone with a higher straight. For most purposes, I like to go no lower than 6-7 off suit.
These cards combos are not ones that you want to play strongly pre-flop. Nor are they ones that you want to mess with at a really aggressive table. These are card combinations that have a relatively low chance of hitting, so you do not want to spend a ton of chips to see the flop. You want to limp in with these or not get into the hand at all. You are also better off playing them early on in a Sit n Go because you are less likely to be raised all-in by a short stack and you have to commit far less of your chip stack this way. In other words, if the blinds are $15-$30 and you have $1500 in chips, you can see a flop pretty cheaply as opposed to when the blinds are $300-$600 and you have $3000 in chips. The time for this play is early on. You are just taking a shot at getting lucky.
So, the texture of the flop is crucial. It will tell you whether to stay in or get out. If it comes something like A-J-3 then you run for the hills. Remember, this is a slash and run type style, not a head to head one. Don't try and bluff with your 7-8 off suit here, someone has an Ace! Every once in a while I watch a player lose a lot of chips in a situation like this and type into the chat box something like "I was trying to represent a hand!" Dumb. In online poker, early in a SNG, you don't make this play, someone has you beat.
Anyway, you are looking for a big score, so the flop has to be perfect. The only time you might think about stealing is if it is a total orphan like 9-4-2 rainbow. The other players in the hand probably have some type of over cards and if the action is checked to you, you might be able to steal the pot with absolutely nothing just because no one else hit any piece at all. You can try this, but dont get carried away. If you get caught, abort. Just because you feel your opponent has nothing, it doesnt do you much good if you have nothing (and not even a high card) as well.
If you hit your flop. You are golden. I suggest slow playing in most cases. The only time you might put on a little pressure is if you feel there is a chance that someone could draw to a higher straight on you. For example, you are hold 6-7 off and the flop comes 8-9-T. You have better get your money in and quick, someone could be holding a Jack. Also, in this case, you had better make a probe bet of 1/2 the pot to see if you are already drawing dead against someone with Q-J. This is a perfect example of why it is better to play high connectors than lower ones. However, if the flop was 3-4-5, then you are pretty safe slow playing.
One thing you have to always be aware of with a made straight is flush possibilites. If there is a flush draw on the board, assume the worst and drive that hand hard. Your opponent may eventually make his flush, but force him to risk alot of chips to do it. If he has a brain he will realize that you are not giving him proper pot odds to pursue it and fold. If not, you did what you could. There is nothing worse than hitting your hand and having someone draw out a flush on you.
There are a few other aspects of playing non-suited connectors that you need to be aware of and we will discuss these tomorrow. For right now, get comfortable with the idea of occasionally playing these hands and if you get in the right situation, they can be quite profitable.
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