Suited Connectors are overrated

Table image

How? Everyone is using tracker now so your once in time 3bets with 76s wont change anything. Also suited connectors are in every GTO chart but as low frequency plays so you can't tell 'this guy is loose' after seeing he had connector on showdown

Board coverage.

Its not as important as you want it to be. One pair hand is most likely to win pot postflop. Its even more true in 3bet pots where stack to pot ratio is low.

On the other hand suited connectors have 2 big downsides:
-bad blockers and unblockers preflop and often postflop
-In majority of cases you hit nothing on flop. Hand like KQo at least can barell and count on those 20% to spike top pair on turn or river.

I get what you're saying.
I'm not arguing for playing suited connectors more, I am basically trying to get a discussion going.
I'm a well-known nit (well known to the other players on PokerStars NL 25 anyway) and occasionally throw in hands with low-frequency plays.

Here is a GTO chart I downloaded from a poker coaching site that offered a free look at their material.
It seems to have only minor differences when compared to the one in the news article.
I presume that it is based on 2x or 2.5x open raise — although I don't know that for certain.
The GTO chart:
Range: (I used suit selection to get the split hand values) 207 combos or 15.61% 77+,6d6h,6d6s,6h6s,6s6c,5d5h,5d5s,5d5c,4d4h,A3s+,K8s+,QTs+,JTs,T9s,Kd7d,Kh7h,Kd6d,Kh6h,7d6d,Kd5d,Kh5h,6d5d,6h5h,5s4s,5c4c,Ad2d,AQo+,KQo,AdJs,AdJc,AhJd,AsJd,AsJh,AcJd,AcJh,AcJs,AdTh,AdTs,AdTc,AhTd,AsTd,AsTh,AcTd,AcTh,AcTs,KhJd,KsJd,KsJh,KcJd,KcJh,KcJs

This is a UTG open-raise chart from several years ago.
range: 55+,ATs+,KTs+,QTs+,J9s+,T8s+,97s+,87s,76s,AJo+,KQo — 176 combos or 13.7%

At first glance it looks like they've exchanged low suited aces for the equivalent number of combos of suited connectors.
Otherwise, there is little difference.

Using equilab,

       Equity     Win     Tie
MP2    48.04%  45.79%   2.25% { 98s, 87s, 76s }
MP3    51.96%  49.72%   2.25% { random }

versus:

       Equity     Win     Tie
MP2    59.06%  57.18%   1.88% { A5s-A3s }
MP3    40.94%  39.06%   1.88% { random }

so in terms of actual equity, the low suited aces fare better

Such an irrelevant treads and discussions. Hands doesnt really matter much to me over the long run. They are kind of "secondary". Poker is psychology mostly not mathematics. We play the opponent not the hand.

Originally posted by NapoleonBonaparte135
We play the opponent not the hand.

Within limits.
If the blinds have a combined fold-to-button-raise of > 50% you can open raise any two cards until they catch on.
Once they do though, you begin to open cards that have at least some potential.

Have you noticed that when you sit down to a new table, almost always, your first open-raise gets 3Bet?

The issue with GTO is that they take into account villain plays GTO as well....

In reality this is not the case in low stakes, and if someone is learning poker GTO ranges will just lose money due to postflop errors.

Would always advise to tighten UTG range more and then adjust again if needed.

There is no point to raise like K9s just because of "GTO".

This is usually my rationale behind finding profitable spots to play suited connectors...

Originally posted by EmiyaKiritsugu

On the other hand suited connectors have 2 big downsides:
-bad blockers and unblockers preflop and often postflop
-In majority of cases you hit nothing on flop. Hand like KQo at least can barell and count on those 20% to spike top pair on turn or river.