In this article, we will compare suited connectors to closed pairs. And we will carry out an analysis with the help of which we will determine which type of hand is stronger. As we know, these hands have an inglorious reputation for making various combinations. Some theorists go further, claiming that suited connectors are preferable in passive games (since they make it possible to make a combination inexpensively), while closed pairs are more suitable for aggressive games (since in the case of a flop of three, they make it possible to hit the jackpot huge, like a fortune). While these arguments make sense, we still insist that concealed pairs play better than suited connectors in almost any game.
Many experienced players are likely to argue with us. And they argue that with a suited pin (a hand consisting of two cards of the same suit of adjacent value) the chances of buying a good flop are about 18%, while a small closed pair can only come with a good flop 11% times. In favor of the suited pin is also the fact that there is a high probability of buying at least something to it on the flop - be it a gat-shot or a middle pair with a back-door - which can then turn into a monster, provided there is a cheap opportunity to see thorn. All this undoubtedly sounds very convincing. Well, now let's see what the closed pair offers us, and whether these advantages outweigh the advantages of the suited pin.
1) Very often, at the very beginning of the game, you have the best hand. And compare this to an unfinished flush or straight made after the flop, and having only 1 in 2 chance of improving.
2) If the flop comes a three, it means that an already successful flop gives you a great opportunity to further strengthen your hand. For example, if you hold closed fives, the flop shows 9-6-5. But pay attention to the fact that if someone is currently holding a seven or eight, then his hand is stronger than yours. However, in this case, too, you have 1 out of 2 chances that you will be able to strengthen your hand to four of a kind or a full house after the turn or river and, accordingly, beat this straight.
3) You will be able to "block" your opponents. This can happen if you improve to a hand that can no longer be beat. For example, you start with two sevens, the flop comes 6-7-J, of which two are clubs. If you buy a six, seven, or jack on the turn, all your opponents making a flush or straight will make a hopeless hand. They will keep betting money, hoping to improve on the river, but they will have no chance of winning. It's great to be in this situation, because the likelihood that you will take the money they put in is usually 100% (usually, not always, because sometimes someone will buy a hand that will beat yours if they are lucky. For example, if in the previous example someone has concealed aces, and on the flop he buys another ace, he will win if the turn brings any card except the seven).
4) Cards that strengthen your hand also strengthen the hands of your opponents, but also prevent them from winning. Imagine what happens in our example, where you are holding down sevens, if the turn brings a six to your opponent holding an ace-six. He will most likely think that all you have is a pair of jacks and will pump money into the pot, even though he can only win if the river comes with a six.
5) And there is another advantage - a closed pair is incomparably easier to play than a suited pin. Most of the hands in Hold'em are difficult to play, but let's face it, any of us can teach even a mentally retarded monkey how to play concealed pairs: either the right card comes up on the flop, or you just check and fold. Compare that to a hand like a 7-8 suited pin, you can't buy much with the flop. Hands of this type usually have a lot of outs after the flop, but only a few of them can lead to candy. If a player has 7-8 and the flop comes K-8-6, then he needs to be very careful when playing his hand. Renowned poker theorist Abdul Jalib once said that arguably the hardest hand to play is J-9 suited, as it usually hits something on the flop, but still too little to give a clear idea of what is possible. the outcome
games.
And I'm not the first person to say that a suited connector is overrated. David Sklansky's hand rating dates back more than thirty years, and today, too high a suited pin position is the most frustrating. I share this discontent, but with only one amendment - it looks like a Sklansky-level player is finding post-flop play with suited connectors more profitable than with concealed pairs because a player with superior hand reading skills can make a smart decision to keep playing. after the flop with a not very strong but not entirely hopeless hand. For all of us, mere mortals, not very sure how to act in a situation when the hands are closed 8-9, and the flop is J-9-6, closed pairs are what will help to win.
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