1. A method for controlling a number of transport layer connections established with a server, the method comprising the steps of: (a) intercepting, by a device located between a client and a server, a request from the client to establish a transport layer connection with the server, the device providing a pool of one or more transport layer connections to the server, the pool having at least a first transport layer connection; (b) comparing, by the device, the number of transport layer connections established between the device and the server to an identified maximum number of allowable connections to the server, the maximum number of allowable connections to the server identified based on a rate of change of a response time of the server; (c) determining, by the device, (i) that a number of transport layer connections established between the device and the server is below a maximum number of allowable connections, responsive to the comparison of the number of transport layer connections established between the device and the server to the identified maximum number of allowable connections to the server, and (ii) that the number of requests the server is responding to within a predetermined amount of time is above a server throughput threshold; and (d) opening, by the device, a second transport layer connection for the pool of one or more transport layer connections between the device and the server responsive to the determination.