How do you play five four suited?

Open it from the hijack onward and call raises in position when the stacks are deep. It plays better than its rank suggests because it makes the lowest straights, which are almost impossible for opponents to read, along with flushes and the wheel. As with every low connector, it needs position and depth to realize that potential, and it is a fold from early seats.

In a balanced 6-max game this hand opens for a raise from the hijack, the cutoff, the button and the small blind.

Common mistake: Playing it out of position or for a weak pair. Five four is all about hidden draws and implied odds, not about making a low pair and calling down.

Quick tip: The most disguised straights in the deck. Position and deep stacks make it worth playing.