Poker News

Tom Leonard

Continuing along on our pursuit of possible aspects of our game which may need some attention for enhanced results, today let’s delve into the fun world of connectors Connecting cards, especially suited ones, are real favorites to many players. While connectors certainly offer potential, I think many players overrate their value andin so doing wind up overplaying them. The first way they are overplayed is playing middle ranked connectors (suited or not) like 8-7 from early position The reason this is such a mistake is twofold: first, if you’re in early position you are subject to raises behind you when you just limp in and second, you don’t have any kind of feel for whether there will be enough players, which would be necessary to provide the pot odds to draw to this mediocre hand This hand at best should be played from late position for a single bet.

Another way connectors are, in my opinion, misplayed is from the blinds when faced with a raise or two. As an example, if the cutoff or button is first in and does so with a raise, most players would suspect a steal being initiated. Well, even if you’re pretty sure the button is on a steal, how do you justify calling with hand like 4-5 offsuit for two or three bets? Players do it every day because they are intent on defending their blinds. This is an ego problem which winds up costing them a lot of chips over the course of a year. The real problem with a hand like this is that unless the flop just nails the hand, which rarely happens, you will need to hit it twice in most cases in order to prevail. Hitting your hand twice is also a rare occurrence!

When you have low or middle connectors, you want to play them in a multi-way pot and would prefer to get in for one bet to see the flop. Meeting those two conditions automatically says that you should only be playing these cuties from late position It is amazing to me how many weak players will play middle connectors and even one or two gappers from early position, even under the gun. A word on gapped connectors If I’m not a big fan of connectors you can imagine how fond I am of gapped connectors. One gap, maybe–double gap, geez—triple gap, if you have to sit there and think whether or not they can be connected as in a three gapped 4-8, do yourself a favor and toss that trash into the muck.

Alright, you’re in late position in a multi-way pot having gotten in for one bet with your 8-7, now what? The most dangerous flop for players with a weakness in the discipline area is one that just gets a piece such as Ace/Jack/seven. Now you have third pair, no kicker and no draw except a six outer. If everyone checks, great, maybe you can hit trips or two pair taking a free card. If bet into, you must release this hand unless you have a very convincing reason not to. Players who pursue a hand with flop like this are usually just throwing their money away You see it done all the time and yes, sometimes the chaser draws out and wins the pot. More often than not, however, valuable chips are frittered awayin a vain attempt to catch up. I’ve said it before and here it is again. Winning poker is not about catching up but rather about starting out ahead. Patience is truly a virtue in poker and rewarded when exercised. Muck third pair with no kicker and you’ll be chips ahead in the long run.

Our goal for this session is to take a reality check on whether or not we’ve become enamored with connectors from early position, not knowing whether we would be facing a raise or having enough players to warrant playing. If we have, knock it off because it’s costing you money. See you next “TIME”.

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