Small suited connectors.

[Molinero]

I love 'em. Play 'em from any seat. Call raises with 'em. Raise with 'em, too.

Here's my question:

Obviously, part of their ptential strength is suitedness, but only if one is willing to play a flush should one draw a flush. So what if I flop a flush after playing 7 6 ?

I don't want any more spades coming out -- that's self-evident. But how big a push would you feel comfortable making?

Here's how I have played them in the past -- let me know what you think, if you please.

Sitting in late position with 7 6

MP player raises to 3BB, I call, BB calls.

FLOP:

9 3 K

Everyone checks, or someone (probably the raiser) bets; I make a serious (pot-sized or better) push.

If someone pushes back, I may lay it down...but my trouble is knowing when to do so. I mean, if I'm going to lay down a 7-high flush, why play it at all?

What do you think?

[Sed]

I would only feel comfortable that I have the best hand when I backdoor a flush while semi-bluffing a strt draw with small suited connectors. Otherwise, you have to play them tentatively like you stated.

- sed

[Xianti]

{Moved from Tournament Tactics and Histories}

[LeFou]

I mean, if I'm going to lay down a 7-high flush, why play it at all?

Because opp has either
-a better flush already (let's say 20% chance of this)
-a draw to a better flush (damn near the rest of the 80%; allow a tiny bit for stone cold bluffs)

If you've made a "serious push" and opp pushes back, then I suspect opp is all-in or damn near it. i.e. will not be folding.

So... how often will opp beat you (get another spade)?

about 29% of the time. Lower than the usual 35 because 7 spades remain instead of 9.

So you're toast 20% + (.29 * 80%) = 43% of the time. If something tells you there's a >20% chance that opp's flush is made, it becomes a coinflip. Sorta.

Seems, then, that if the push-back is opp's "last few chips" you call of course. If the push-back takes the pot to a whole new level it's damn tough to call, esp. in tournaments.

PS: an advanced opp might push with a set here if heshe knows you call with LSCs. i.e. heshe would read that you had a flush but figure
-could scare you off (knows your flush is low)
-will boat 1/3 of the time even if that fails.

[Molinero]

PS: an advanced opp might push with a set here if heshe knows you call with LSCs. i.e. heshe would read that you had a flush but figure
-could scare you off (knows your flush is low)
-will boat 1/3 of the time even if that fails.

That's what troubles me. It seems like the flush, low or not, is still powerful. And (without the benefit of any data or even a particularly mathematically inclined head) I don't think I've seen as many flush-beat-by-higher-flush hands as would really worry me, so it seems that this kind of situation is one that could get me into a lot of trouble.

Hmmm...