Today we will discuss suited connectors in no limit play. I have read and heard many players moving from limit to no limit complain that suited connectors are overrated. After all, they say, you rarely flop a good draw, and when you do, your opponent can control your pot odds so you are not getting the right price to make your draw. Finally, they argue, when you do make your draw it is hard to get paid off, so the “implied odds” no limit types are so fond of do not materialize.

These players appear to misunderstand some of the fundamental differences between limit and no limit. First, while in limit the question to ask is “how often,” in no limit it is “how much.” If you flop a huge hand rarely, but can win a big stack when you do, that becomes worthwhile in no limit though valueless in limit.

Limit players also underestimate the value of bluffing in no limit. To some extent depending on the game and opponent, bluffing is a far more powerful tool in big bet poker than it is in fixed limit. If you flop a big draw and can use it to push your opponent off his vulnerable one-pair holding, you can win many pots without improving, while still having excellent chances to improve on those occasions when you do get called. The limit guys still seem to think in terms of making their hand, not making big moves.

Finally, let’s address the problem of making your draw and not getting paid. If you are playing opponents who will not pay off when a draw gets there, you can bet them to death on the river, with or without a hand. After all, some draw gets there most of the time when your opponent is holding one pair. If any straight card or flush card is going to paralyze your opponent into checking and folding, then clearly you should be able to exploit this. And when he starts calling, you get your implied odds back.

No limit involves making moves that are not available in limit poker. If you are unwilling to understand and make them, then you should stick to limit (which is not a bad thing, just a preference) where slow and steady will win the race.