[Zybomb]

A lot depends

The better your post flop play is, the wider the range of acceptable hands to play is. The later your position, the wider the range is as well.

Sure you want mutliway pots with suited connectors, but if your positioning is late, I like a smaller size field also... not like HU or anything, but say there's one limper, if Im on the button I limp and the blinds complete... this is ideal. There's 4:1 on your money in the pot, if I hit I'm disguised, and even better Im last to act, so if it's checked around to me, I can throw out a feeler bet to drag in the pot if I sense weakness (as opposed to being trapped). Most players will fold to this bet unless they are fairly strong (and if that was the case they probably would of bet) simply because the pot is so small, why bother getting into a questionable situation for such a small pot. For the other perspective, these pots can add up over the course of a session, which is why I like this.

Playing Suited Connectors (rather than just playing position):

Remember what you are looking for. 8s7s, you are looking for a flush or a straight (preferably a straight, since there is less worry about a better one, a problem you have if you hit a flush)...otherwise two pair or trips.

Am I saying if you flop top pair, don't bet? no of course not, but be prepared to lay the hand down if your opponent's don't seem amused.

Also be able to look at the flops, and don't forget about backdoor draws.

A flop of 8c 6s 2d is fairly decent. You've flopped the top pair, and you also have a backdoor straight and flush draw (both which would be deceptive if you've been betting the entire time. I'd actually raise in LP if someone bet before me (not a huge raise, but just a feeler). Maybe I'll take it down there, if not, Im hoping to hit trips, two pair, or pick up a flush or straight draw on the turn (thats alot of cards that can help, 9 spades, 3 non spade 9s, 3 non spade 5s, 2 8s and 3 7s -- 20 total) Even if I've flopped MIDDLE pair with all these backdoor draws I may still raise depending on the over. The best thing is, if you pick up a backdoor draw which completes, it will be next to impossible to put you on it, because you've been betting/raising since the flop, and the draw has come runner runner!

For this reason, these hands work better in LP. If you are first to act and bet, if you are raised, you are put in a tough spot, and also forced to check fold the turn if you do not improve (assuming you call), where as in LP you've taken control, and have the option of checking back for a free card when you are likely checked to on the turn

In general, in EP I'm mucking most of these hands, but I will play JTs and up as long as the table isn't too aggressive (Im looser than most though). In MP, I like to start limping if there has been someone to enter the pot before me, if Im the first to enter, I'll sometimes fold, sometimes call and occassionally raise. In LP I like mixing in raises with calls. If no one has entered the pot it becomes a fold/raise decision... with limpers already in, it depends if I want to see a cheap flop and hope to catch a big piece, or take control of the hand, limit it to 1 or no callers, and then go from there (also REALLY get action should I hit, since no one will put me on it

At a table which will pay you off huge, and is passive preflop, I'm calling with all suited connectors 65 and up, any suited ace and any pair from all positions. The reason being, should I hit, the likelihood of the calling station table paying me off huge is so big, that it offsets my poor positioning and the bets I lose if the pot is raised preflop.

Calling Raises:

I will call raises with medium suited connectors in some situations. More often Im laying them down, but if the raise has been called by 2 people, I'm usually entering the pot as well

When I hit, Im playing my hand fast and not getting cute in most situations. In a large field, if I flop the nut straight let's say and the PFRer is closely to my left, I'll check and let him fire, so I may get a few calls from other players, then I come over the top. If not, I'll generally fire out, have the PFRer raise me and then move in. With two pair, it'll often be bottom two...Im playing fast and playing VERY aggressive, especially against the PFRer, who likely has an overpair or TPTK

If I complete a flush, Im careful. I play it aggressively, but if my opponent isn't budging, I'll often check call the later streets.

Well that's a start I guess...