[Texun1]

Being suited is always important in Texas hold'em because it can bring you best benefits on many levels. cards are following more that just one purpose and that is always a good think. If you have QK of the same color or even 10-9 or any other suited consecutive connectors you should play them every time you can get a good pot out this hand. As always, late position is suitable for this kind of strategy too. There is a difference in value between a consecutive hand like QK simple and QK suited. Let's just consider the fact that suited connectors are hands that are not played often in Texas hold'em. They are only played when the situation is just right.

When you are focusing on playing suited connectors you have to keep in mind that many times you will get a card that is consecutive to the ones you have but it is not in the same suit as they are. This means that many times you will be playing many more marginal hands that you expected or planned too. If you only keep the suited plan, then you just drop whatever hand doesn't follow the pattern.

If you intend to go for a flush then if you only play the suited connectors you will have a straight flash so that is going to be a much more power flush than the normal one. And also, playing suited gets you more often to flush draws that to straight draws and a flush has more power than a straight in Texas hold'em.

A reason to play only the suit connectors is the fact that when you start playing the off suit connectors you can stumble upon many many problems. For example, you will be simply playing in more pots, playing more hands, and statistically you have more chances to lose. You will almost all the time go for straight draws and if someone has one, and they might, you will loose to a flush. You will find yourself making more difficult decisions and have more chances to be wrong. You can also lose to a better straight. There are many cards that can beat your hand even if you manage to make the hand. This is why you should always try and ply only the suited connectors.

When you decide and play that suited connector you are holding check always the cards displayed on the flop. If there is even the slightest change that someone else might take your decision, then go along with it only if you have high connectors, especially connectors from the high end of the suit like A, K, Q.

The Author: J Finney