Occasionally "Contrarian" in Multi-Way?

On occasion, maybe once every 100 hands when my betting position permits a pre-flop call without fear of re-raise, I'll stay in with mid-hi suited connectors (JT thru 87) when the pre-flop action goes as high as maybe 7 BBs with 4 or 5 in the pot. Without position and many in the pot, these would normally be quick folds at anything more than 2 BBs.

My rationale is that my hand is somewhat "contrarian" to the typical good starting hand, and a flop that helps me almost certainly provides no help to others. A flop that does not help me, I'm outta there fast. If I catch top-pair, I'm still very cautious for fear of better hidden pair. But 2-pair or better, I'm in pretty good shape.

I believe these occasional plays have been profitable for me overall. But certainly, this is not a new concept so I woukld like to know whether I've just been lucky with these occasional starting-hand "violations", or whether in NL this is an accepted and valid technique (under the right circumstances).

Thanks...

I agree that these plays can be quite lucrative on certain occasions, but I do have a problem with them and have stopped playing them.

Your chances of hitting the nuts is actually quite small. There will be times when the flop hits you hard like in your situation with JT and landing 7 8 9 on the flop. But what if theres a flush draw, or they are all suited? What do you do now? The intial raiser will push a bet usualy and you may counter with a raise. If he's holding AA-JJ he may call you. Now what if the turn is an A and fills the flush, or a T and the guy who went in with JQ has the nut straight.

The problem is, the flop may hit you great, but it can cost you a bundle on the turn and river if the high cards match up. Especially if you went in with something like 87s and 8 6 x rainbow comes out. You bet the board and A K comes on the turn and river.

Although the potential is there for something great, more often then not the board isn't going to be completely fair, even if the flop is. I've been victim of getting cockky with a hand like this and getting drawn out.

Its not a bad idea, but can be considered a leak in the long term game. I play mostly tournaments and I choose to hold on to my chips for something better.

I'm not necessarily looking for the Nuts on the flop.... But 2-pair, trips or a draw to a straight or flush will usually mean (flush being the exception) that the flop probably did not improve the "strong" pre-flop bettors much, if at all.

Yes... the turn or river can bring the royalty, but could just as easily bring more rags... and the strong pre-flop hands typically feel a need to keep pushing their bets, right into me.

It just seems that occasionally going "against the grain" has paid dividends for me on those hands, and possibly establishing a "looser" table-reputation (if anyone is watching, which is unlikely in my nickel-dime games).

I am not trying to argue the merits. I am more interested whether the concept is accepted or has been rejected by the experts. I appreciate your insights.

I used to do that, but i think i'm going to stop, poker tracker is showing it as a really bad investment... loseing 10c here and 25c there isnt being made up by winning $8(or whatever) so far. Still need more hands though... only at 2,500 so far.

The other thing you could do with suited connectors would be to raise pre flop if everyone has limped and you are in late positon. Then you are in a good position to steal even if you don't hit anything on the flop. It seems to be working well for Ilikeaces. I don't do this much myself though.