Small and medium pairs and suited connectors are often more difficult hands to play, simply because you are more frequently involved in challenging decisions after the flop, usually having to fold. Sure it is tough to throw away a low pair or a draw, but every once in awhile hands with potential like this can win mammoth pots because your opponents will normally not have any thought of what you are holding.
Now what you need to keep in mind here is that Texas Hold'em is a betting game, and most players tend to play cards that permit them to bet on their strength alone. That generally means face cards and strong aces. In that sense most of the hands you play holding lower pairs and connectors are going to be losers. The idea however is to keep the pots small and get to see an affordable flop.
You can make these hands profitable long-term, and that ordinarily means one of, or a combination of playing position, opponent profiling, and pot size. When you play these hands in position you are less likely to be re-raised pre-flop, allowing you to see the flop for cheap. You want to be able to do this to keep your entry costs minimal, while still maintaining your win potential much higher.
Another good opportunity to play these potential hands is versus loose aggressive opponents who cannot control themselves. Often times their aggression factor, and the amount of chips they are ready to chance a single play on can result in a deep pot by virtue of their ignorance of the flop chemistry. This happens all the time in online poker, and one or two hands like this during the your session will boost your bankroll. You just have to recognize that particular scenario where somebody is likely to make a colossal error.
Pot size can be an inducement when calling in late position a multi-way pot. When holding cards with potential against multiple opponents, you are going to have an easier decision after the flop as to what to do, and if you get a huge draw or flop three of a kind, you may be able to keep several players in the pot to pay you off big. You will typically make far more money playing these hands in multi-player pots, and when the flop is really effective for you, a double or triple up is not uncommon.
So when playing weaker hands, you should always be looking for implied odds spots where the potential for payout is huge, even though your hand is considered weak.
