How to play suited connectors pre-flop?

[joeblack]

Lately I have notice that I am losing money with my pre-flop suited connector (SC) play and I wanted to run it by the community and see what you think.

1) I raise SC from UTG -> BTN if conditions are optimal (ie: the players behind me to the BTN are weak-tight. If they are loose then I will just raise SC's in the cut-off and on the BTN.

2) Possible leak: When raising to $8 (1/2 NL) if I get 3-bet to $24 by the BTN and there is a caller in the blinds - I too will call. If there is no caller in the blinds, I will fold. I don't want to play SC heads up, especially OOP.

My concern really lies in #2. Do you play SC's to a 3-bet when there will be 3 going to the flop or only if there is 4 going to the flop? What I am thinking now is since 90% of the time there is a continuation bet on the flop after a 3-bet with 3 going to the flop, I will need a strong heads-up hand AK-AJ, AA-TT to decide if I am going play the hand any further - not SC's.

Thoughts?