poker By Nic Szeremeta

What is the hold 'em hand most likely to beat a pair of pocket aces in an all-in-before-the-flop situation? Well, it is not pocket kings or any other pair, for that matter.

The rank of the lower pair is almost irrelevant, and a pair of 2s is as about as good as a pair of kings. Effectively, the aces are 80% to 20% favourites to win. The answer is 6-7 of the same suit with the aces of a different suit.

Take a hand like 6d-7d racing against As-Ah. The pair of pocket rockets are obviously favourite to win, but only by 77.85 % to 22.15%.

In betting terms this is not the biggest outsider in the field. Horses at this price attract mountains of money every day at the race tracks. Hands such as the 6-7 above are known in poker parlance as "suited connectors", and many aficionados like them very much indeed. The usual factors apply. Late position and several other players in the pot already are circumstances which might prompt one to take a shot at the pot and see the flop.

In tournament play, particularly in the early rounds where the limits are not high, suited connectors can play particularly well. Hit the flop with them, and they have a significant surprise value.

There is not only the possibility of making an unbeatable straight with a 3-4-5 or 4-5-8 flop, there is also the possibility of making a flush. The latter is less desirable as it can sometimes be beaten.

In addition, there are other flops which can produce a well- disguised monster hand. If the first three common cards contain a couple of 6s or 7s, or even a 6-7-x, get your betting boots on. There is every likelihood of action, with the holder of the suited connectors on the winning end of it.

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