Having an  ABC poker hand, you always want to start with the best hole cards. Such hands as pocket Aces or A-K suited are reliable, no-low value cards and it’s not hard to figure out whether or not you have the premium hand. If you can mastered these basic starting hands, it’s time to broaden your range. This defines learning to obtain maximum value from hands such as 9-8s or 6-5s, otherwise known as ‘medium suited connectors’.

When holding medium suited connectors, most novice players are either frightened or overconfident. Both attitudes lead to weakness in their game. How to play these cards correctly? Approach them with a balance of caution and confidence.

The first thing you want to consider is position. Try playing suited connectors as often as possible (this applies if your opponent isn’t severely short-stacked and looking to get all-in versus anything) but it’s a much better play in position. You won’t make many enormous hands with these cards – expect to make second or third pair often – so position gives you more data, enabling you to make better choices.

You want to see a cheap flop with as many players involved as possible – the more the jollier. This is a key function in your decision to play or fold. 8-7s doesn’t hold up in a battle against K-K – you’re a roughly 4 to 1 underdog and you won’t take the pot down often enough to justify calling. Although, when there are more people in the hand, there is more cash in the pot. If you can cheaply view a flop in a multi-way hand, your potential payback is an avantage of your odds of not winning the hand.

In addition, the possibility of tapping the veins or what is “hitting the nuts” and getting a huge payout from a weaker hand increases with more players in the hand. You’ll also increase the chances of facing a novice (weak) player. This is an benefit you should always look for, especially when you’re holding medium suited connectors. Weak or novice players often find it hard to lay down their cards when they make a hand. So, when you tap the right vein or hit the nuts, they will pay you off big time.

Sophistication is properly required when playing medium suited connectors and the ability to make good reads. When you’re confident putting your opponent on a narrow range of hands, and understand enough to be right most of the time, then you’re ready to start playing these cards more aggressively and more often. You can play suited connectors a lot, especially against opponents who put in too much money with hands like top pair or over-pairs.

As mentioned before: play with a variety of caution and confidence. If you have position, use the information to determine whether or not you have a strong hand. The worst case scenario is hitting a small to medium flush and losing to a bigger flush. A lot of people maybe losing value because they’re scared of this. Don’t shy away from the fact – if you’re just playing medium suited connectors in the hope of flopping the nuts, never making plays or making light call-downs, you’re not going to be too profitable.

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