I think most of us look at suited connectors and think I’m automatically raising with this no matter what my position is. Which is fine. But should you call a 3 bet with suited connectors? That is the issue at hand.
Why You Should Call 3 Bets with Suited Connectors
I almost always call 3 bets with suited connectors because they can crack a lot of big pairs like AA, KK, QQ, or can out flip over cards like AK or AQs. Once you have a good grip on how to play pre flop and understand technical things like GTO concepts you can put your opponents on a range of what they might be holding. Which is exactly what happened in the hand im about to break down.
89 Suited Preflop Action
So, I was sitting at a $500 cash game doing decent to start when I was dealt an 89s. I opened raised this hand from early position and was immediately 3 bet to $55. The action came back around me, and I had to decide to either call or fold. Obviously, I wasn’t calling but raising with this hand doesn’t make sense either so I just flatted.
Flopped the Flush
And I had to do a double take on this board because you can best believe I flopped a flush. This hand was also played on Ignition Poker which is one of my favorite sites to use for mid stakes cash games. But after flopping the flush player 4 put out a bet of $40. Instead of raising this hand immediately I just called and decided to slow play it.
More Action on Turn
So, this is where things got more interesting. Player 4 led out for $96 on the turn and at this point slow playing didn’t make a lot of sense. I also had to consider how much was already in the pot, and I didn’t want to let him get to the river hitting a higher flush than us with something like AK or AQ with a diamond, so I jammed for his remaining stack. He had about $300 left so I figured he would call this considering how much he led out with on the turn.
End Result
When I shoved for player 4’s remaining stack he decided to fold and let his hand go. I was putting him on having some type of Ace with a diamond draw but it’s possible he wasn’t quite that strong. I still prefer protecting my hand based on how much he bet on the turn, so my jam was reasonable. At least I think it was. And guess what happened? The river card put out 4 diamonds which would have put our 89s flopped flush in a brutal spot if our opponent was holding any type of diamond which is why I prefer the way I played this hand.
Stack Depth Matters
Stack depth is one of the biggest factors I consider before calling a 3-bet with suited connectors. These hands need room to play after the flop. If I’m sitting with 100 big blinds or more, calling with a hand like 98s becomes more appealing because I can potentially win a large pot when I make a straight, flush, or two pair.
This is where implied odds come into play. I’m not calling a 3-bet because I expect to flop a monster very often. I’m calling because when I do connect hard with the board, there’s a chance to win much more than what I invested preflop.
Short stacks change the situation completely. With only 40 or 50 big blinds effective, there isn’t as much money left behind to win. That makes speculative calls less attractive. The deeper the stacks get, the more value suited connectors can have, especially when I’m playing in position against a predictable opponent.
Common Mistakes With Suited Connectors
One of the biggest mistakes players make with suited connectors is treating them like automatic calls. Hands like 8♠7♠ or 9♥8♥ can look great, but they lose a lot of value when you are facing a large 3-bet, playing out of position, or sitting with shallow stacks. The hand is only attractive when you have enough room to realize your equity after the flop.
Another common mistake is overvaluing weak pairs. If you call a 3-bet with 8♠7♠ and the flop comes 8-high, top pair can still be in bad shape against overpairs and stronger eights. Suited connectors make their money from straights, flushes, two pair, and strong draws, not from blindly stacking off with one pair.
Players also chase draws without considering pot odds. Just because you have a flush draw or open-ended straight draw does not mean every call is profitable. Bet size still matters.
Finally, many players ignore position. Calling suited connectors on the button is very different from defending them out of position. When you are out of position, it is harder to control the pot, realize your equity, and get paid when you hit. Suited connectors are powerful, but only when used selectively.
Final Thoughts
Calling 3 bets with suited connectors is not a bad decision but you have to navigate the flop correctly. If you decide to call and miss completely or don’t really connect at all you should weigh your options. For me, in this spot my decision was easy because I flopped a flush and was also blocking any type of diamond my opponent could have been holding.
So, in a way what I’m saying is that you can make 3 bet calls with suited connectors but expect to play them more on the defensive side and get an idea of what your opponent might be holding when you make the call. You need to ask yourself does he has an over pair or a couple of over cards like AK and missed the flop. Understanding blockers and GTO concepts can help a lot with this, especially as you play against better players. But I still think in most cases you should always be calling 3 bets with suited connectors just navigate board textures and figure out what to do next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you call a 3-bet with suited connectors?
Sometimes. Suited connectors can be good calls when you are in position, stacks are deep, and the 3-bet sizing is reasonable. Against a tight player or a very large 3-bet, folding is usually better.
What suited connectors are best against a 3-bet?
Higher suited connectors such as JTs, T9s, and 98s generally play better because they can make stronger pairs, straights, and flushes. Lower suited connectors like 65s and 54s are more difficult to play profitably.
How deep should stacks be to call with suited connectors?
Suited connectors improve in value as stacks get deeper. Around 100 big blinds is much better than 40 or 50 big blinds because you have more implied odds when you make a strong hand.
Should you call suited connectors out of position?
You should be more selective. Playing out of position makes it harder to realize your equity and control the size of the pot.
Are suited connectors profitable in 3-bet pots?
They can be, but only in the right situations. Position, stack depth, opponent tendencies, and 3-bet sizing all matter. Calling every suited connector simply because it is suited is a common leak.
Edward Pao is an online poker and casino affiliate marketer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. He has referred over 30,000 players to major poker platforms and specializes in reviewing the best online poker sites and casino bonuses.