When you are playing online poker, or even when you are watching televised poker, you will often hear commentators and analysts talking about flush draws and suited connectors. These are common and commonly misplayed poker hands, but knowing how to play them can give you a significant advantage over your opponents.
What Is A Flush Draw
A flush draw is when you have four cards of the same suit and are one card away from making a flush. For example, you have a flush draw if you have the 9, 10, Jack, and Queen of Hearts.
How To Play Flush Draws
You can play flush draws in a few different ways. The way that you play them will depend on the situation that you are in and what your goals are for the hand.
If you are in a late position and there has been no raise, you can simply call with your flush draw. It will allow you to see the flop for cheap, and you will have a strong hand if you hit your flush.
If you are in a late position and there has been a raise, you can sometimes play your flush draw by raising. It is a good play if you think that your opponent might be bluffing or if you think that they might have a weak hand.
When Should I Fold A Flush Draw
There are a few situations where you should fold your flush draw. First is if you are in an early position and there has been a raise. The same goes if the pot isn’t worth much, and you don’t think you can win it by calling. Lastly, you should fold all the same if the pot is huge and you don’t believe you can win it by raising.
How Community Cards Can Help A Flush Draw
If you have a flush draw after the flop, then there are two ways that the turn and river cards can help you. The first is if one of the cards is the same suit as your hand. It increases your chances of making your flush by 4%. The second is if two of the cards are the same suit as your hand. It increases your chances of making your flush by 11%.
What Is A Suited Connector
A suited connector is a two-card hand in which the cards are of the same suit and are next to each other in rank. For example, if you have the 9 and 10 of Hearts, you have a suited connector.
How To Play Suited Connectors
Suited connectors are usually played the same way as flush draws. Call if you are in a late position and there has been no raise. On the other hand, if you’re in a late position and someone has raised, you can play your suited connectors by raising. Only do this if you think your opponent is bluffing or has weak poker card hands.
In general poker play, you should be more aggressive with your suited connectors than flush draws. It is because the poker odds of making a straight or a flush with your suited connectors are better than the odds of making a flush with your flush draw.
How Community Cards Can Help Suited Connectors
Community cards are great when you have suited connectors, as you can use them to make a strong hand. If the flop comes down and there are two cards of your suit, you’ll have a solid hand. Your odds of making a flush are now 4 to 1, which is great. When this happens, you should usually bet or raise.
On the other hand, if the flop comes down and there is only one card of your suit, you still have a decent chance of making a flush. It would help if you usually bet or raise when this happens.
If the flop comes down and there are no cards of your suit, you should usually check or fold. Your odds of making a flush are now very low, and you don’t want to risk any more money in the pot.
You can also use these cards to turn suited connectors into a straight. It happens when two of the community cards are of the same suit as your hand and are next to each other in rank. For example, if you have the 9 of Hearts and the 10 of Hearts, and the flop comes down Jack, Queen and King of Spades, then you have a straight. The odds of this happening are very low, but it is possible.
When Should I Fold Suited Connectors
If you think your opponent might have a flush or a straight, you should usually check or fold when this happens. However, you can sometimes bet or raise if you feel that they might be bluffing.
Suit Up And Flush The Competition
Flush draws and low suited connectors may not be the best poker hands, but they can be great if you know how to play them. Be sure to keep these tips in mind the next time you are playing poker.
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