Using the poker hand chart...

[Sco]

Hi. First of all, I only play on really small buy in tables - usually only single but sometimes a freezout - usually for $2 but I may soon move up to $5 - Am a student so cant afford to risk any more. I have had a lot of success - started off with £5 and currently have $60 in my account - I play tight and aggressive - as in only really play high cards and pairs over 7 and go on the philosophy that as long as I win the few hands i play I will do ok - i also dont go all in at the start - bar AKs or KK, AA.

back to my question...I have been looking at the poker chart and have noticed that 9,8s ranks highly on the list. I would generally not raise this hand, and i certainly wouldn't call a raise due to being scared of losing to a high card at least? Should I play it aggressively? I only say this as I would be more comfortable playing an A 8 off suite which is last in the chart.

Thanks for any help
Sco

[CrunchyNuts]

Middle/low suited connectors, IMO, aren't nearly as strong in tourneys as it is in ring games...their power is in the implied odds. In a tourney setting you haven't got the stack to chase such things usually, not really a problem in ring games.

[EthanH1]

Hi Sco,

with suited connectors as low down as 4,5s i would use these as a change up in my game, there are best used in late positon where you can( if you know the playing styles of the blinds) steel or limp in, raiseing big 3-4 the blinds with the steel and 1-2 times the blind with the limp. i still raise with the limp because if any of the blinds call you get the info that there hand must be a good starter, and you will still have your postion on these player after the flop, the biggest thing with these hands is that if you have'nt floped one card two a straight or a flush the hand is worth nothing any more and you can not get tied up to it, these hands can make monsters or they can make you go broke so play them with care.

[Ltrain]

I am more of a limit player, but 9,8s can be raised as a blind steal at the button or CO. O.W., try to play them only in late position, preferably with two callers, maybe one on a passive table.