Calling in the small blind with "any two suited"?

[Masquerade]

In HPFAP S&M opine that you can call in the SB, in an unraised pot, with "any two suited cards". I really can't believe calling with 82 or 63 here is a positive expectation play and would welcome some discussion.

First some analysis. Let's assume we are a typical 9-handed normal limit game where the SB is half the BB, the players are reasonably tough and there are 3/4 limpers. The BB may of course raise after we call but there's no reason to believe they would do so excessively.

There are 13C2 = 78 ways to have two suited cards. I would only advocate calling when (a) one is J or better (b) connectors or (c) one-gaps.

We can categorise those hands as Ax [12], Kx [11], Qx [10], Jx [9], T9, ..., 32 [8], T8, ..., 42 [7] giving a total of 57/78 and leaving the 21 2-gaps or worse out in the cold.

It just seems too likely to run into a better flush/set etc if you call with the likes of 82 and do manage to hit. Has anyone done any simulations/work on this problem?

[Patriarch]

Right now I call (unraised) with any A or K, any connectors and any two suited cards. I think its a pretty poor system but its easy to remember.

[BigBaitsim (milo)]

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Right now I call (unraised) with any A or K, any connectors and any two suited cards. I think its a pretty poor system but its easy to remember.

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When the blind structure is 1/2, with several limpers, I do the same. I've largely moved to the 3/6, which has a 1/3 structure, and now play MUCH tighter.

[axioma]

i think i play a little too loose on both the small blind, and when calling rasies in the big. i should work on it.

i think its an area many people play sub-optimally actually...

[Patriarch]

I also have trouble deciding what to call a single raise with in the BB.

[NLSoldier]

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the players are reasonably tough

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I think this is the problem with your argument, if the players were reasonably tough then i think you would be correct to tighten up. But that is generally not the case in most games these days.

[Uppercut]

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I also have trouble deciding what to call a single raise with in the BB.

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Ed Miller recommends calling a PF raise in the BB with any starting hand that you would have played for one bet in late position. I find this a pretty easy rule to remember, especially since I play the micro-limit games.