Suited connector

Eight-Seven Suited

87s is a higher suited connector with strong middle-board coverage. It makes more valuable pairs and straights than 76s, while still needing position or a favorable Big Blind price to realize its draws. Its flushes are not automatically nut flushes.

How to play 87s by position and stack size

Recommended action	UTG8-max	UTG18-max	LJ6-max	HJ6-max	CO6-max	BTN6-max	SB6-max
100bb+	Open	Open	Open	Open	Open	Open	Limp
40-100bb	Open	Open	Open	Open	Open	Open	Limp
27-40bb	Open	Open	Open	Open	Open	Open	Open
20-26bb	Fold	Fold	Open	Open	Open	Open	Limp
16-19bb	Fold	Fold	Open	Open	Open	Open	Jam
11-15bb	Fold	Fold	Fold	Open	Open	Open	Jam
7-10bb	Fold	Fold	Jam	Jam	Jam	Jam	Jam
6bb-	Fold	Fold	Fold	Jam	Jam	Jam	Limp

Open when:Cutoff, Button, or Small Blind

The higher ranks make it more playable than 76s but do not remove positional costs. chart support in earlier seats.

3bet when:In selected polarized branches against an open that can fold

Use a supported position and sizing rather than turning every suited connector into a bluff.

Call when:In position or BB at a good price

87s benefits from seeing turns with real straight and flush possibilities.

Jam when:Only in a short-stack range that

Deep stacks make a postflop call more valuable than an automatic shove. accounts for position and ICM.

Fold when:Tight early range, large 3-bet

Pairing the eight or seven can leave 87s dominated by better kickers. price too poor for the draw.

Strong against

86s

86s shares the Eight but has the weaker kicker, making a dominated pair that can still pay 87s.

Weak against

A8s
A8s shares the Eight with the better kicker, so 87s can make a costly second-best pair.

Flop classes

Made straight

On 9♣ 6♦ 5♥, 87s makes the nine-high straight. Be careful when a fourth straight card or a flush draw gives an opponent a higher or better redraw.

Gutshot

On 9♠ 5♦ 2♣, 87s has a gutshot through a six to make 5-6-7-8-9. It is not open-ended because the four-card sequence is broken by the missing six.

Flush draw

On A♠ 6♠ 2♦, 8♠ 7♠ has four spades visible and a direct flush draw. The seven is not on the board, so the example is a legal 87s holding.

Strategic notes

Versus 3-bets

Call selectively in position or from the Big Blind when the sizing and effective depth make the implied odds real.
Fold more often out of position or against a value-heavy 3-bet. A pair is often not enough to withstand later pressure.
Fold to most 4-bets. Suitedness does not provide enough equity against the continuing range.

Post-flop playability

87s can arrive with a made low straight or a gutshot, but distinguish those made hands from four-card draws: the available ranks and the board texture determine whether one or two ranks complete the straight.
87s has a direct flush draw only when two board cards match its suit, with one matching card it has only a backdoor route. The flush is also low enough to remain vulnerable to higher suited hands.