PokerCoaching Quiz: Splashing Around With Suited Connectors

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Key Concept: Splashing Around With Suited Connectors

It’s early in the World Series Of Poker main event and you have a stack of 55,575 with the blinds at 150-300. It folds around to the splashy player on the button who raises to 1,200. You are the small blind and look down at 6 5.

Question 1: Should you fold, call, re-raise to 2,600, or re-raise to 4,000?

Answer: The only reason you would consider calling is if you are suspicious of your opponent’s large raise size. Assuming four big blinds is their standard raise size (meaning this four-big blind raise is not out of the ordinary), you should lean towards three-betting. Your opponent’s large raise size incentivizes you even more to three-bet because you are getting worse odds to call. You would much prefer they fold their hand as opposed to you calling and having to play 6 5 out of position in a big pot.

In general, you want to three-bet, and even if your opponent four-bets you can justify calling if it is to a small size. Three-betting to 4,000 is preferred because 2,600 gives your opponent excellent odds to continue, which you do not want.

You three-bet 4,000, the big blind folds and the button calls. The flop comes 9 5 4.

Question 2: Should you check, bet 3,400, bet 7,400, or bet 10,400?

Answer: You have a clear marginal made hand, but it is very susceptible to being outdrawn. It is tough for you to know how well this board connects with your opponent’s range, as a splashy player on the button could easily have random suited hands like 9-7 suited. However, given the splashy player could have one of the numerous unpaired hands with two overcards, making a small bet for value and protection is ideal.

If you bet 3,400 and force him to fold out hands like Q-J, that is a victory for you. If you know you are rarely getting raised by this opponent, betting is by far the best play. If there is a good chance your opponent will raise if you bet, checking, looking to check-call, is ideal. 

You bet 3,400 and your opponent calls. The turn is the 2.

Question 3: Should you check, bet 4,000, bet 8,000, or bet 12,000?

Answer: Any overcard on the turn would have been disastrous for you, but luckily the 2 arrived. Checking allows your opponent to bet the turn and the river, perhaps forcing you off of the best hand. While you could easily be behind a better pair, it is somewhat likely your opponent still has some unpaired high cards in their range. If your opponent has a wide flop calling range, forcing them out of the pot on the turn keeps them from realizing their equity on the river.

With a 15,400 pot, a 4,000 bet applies pressure to random overcard hands while giving you value when they happen to call with worse pairs or ace-high.

You bet 4,000 and your opponent folds. Your aggressive preflop three-betting with a low suited connector coupled with small amounts of post-flop aggression rewards you with a nice pot.

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