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Playing Suited Connectors In No-Limit Hold'em
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If you had to pinpoint one revelation in Super-System that ruined Doyle Brunson's edge and changed the face of no-limit hold'em forever, it would have to be the revolutionary (at the time) value he placed on suited connectors. The observation Bruson made was that no starting hand is better suited (pardon the pun) to take down monster pots in no-limit, for a number of reasons. First, it is very hard for opponents to put you on these hands when the flop hits you perfectly. Second, these hands play very well against big pairs, and most players are loathe to lay down big pairs particularly when the flop looks harmless. Third, it confuses your opponents about you in a long-term sense, because once you take down a monster pot with 56 suited it is difficult for those same foes to put you on a premium hand at a later stage - so it encourages the false notion that you are super-aggressive and lucky.
You have to remember that Limit Hold'em and No-Limit Hold'em are two totally different games, and that the value of suited connectors skyrockets in no-limit because of the Implied Pot Odds you could easily have if you hit a big hand that is well disguised.
Although, winning a large pot with suited connector hands is rewarding in itself, it is even more rewarding down the line because players can see that you are capable of playing any two cards.
One of the most important things to remember about playing suited connectors in No-Limit Hold'em is that you are looking to make a huge hand, and you have to be able to get away from mediocre improvement that wasn't what you were really looking for in the first place. If you are holding 89 suited and the flop comes 923 with nothing in your suit, you have to be capable of letting the hand go if you come under any pressure from the opposition. You are looking to flop nut straights, open ended flush draws, trips or two pair. Flopping weak top pair with an even weaker kicker is not what you are after. You must also remember that you cannot risk a substantial portion of your stack trying to hit a huge hand because the implied odds are what make playing this hand worth the risk. If you (or your opponent) do not have the chips in play to justify the implied odds, then just fold your hand.
Playing suited connectors is one of the secrets of the incredible success enjoyed by players such as Negreanu and Hansen. But the key to their success is their ability to play these hands after the flop, and to navigate away from potential disaster. They always know why they risked playing the hand in the first place, and if the odds or the board no longer warrant it they will fold straight away. But, they are always looking for dramatic monster pots that cement their "wild" reputations and quickly build their stacks!
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