Opening from the small blind

Why this range

Only the big blind is left to beat, but you will be out of position against them for the rest of the hand.

Raise or fold is the simple default when the action folds to you. Limping gives the big blind a free flop with position.

How wide to open

The chart raises 37% of hands and folds the rest. There is no calling when everyone before you has folded: if a hand is good enough to play, it is good enough to raise.

The chart raises to 3 big blinds. Use the same size with every hand you open, so that the size says nothing about your cards.

When someone has raised before you

Your range is narrower against a raise than when you are first in, and it depends on who opened. In the starting charts: against an open from UTG, raise 5% of hands and call 1%; against an open from HJ, raise 8% of hands and call 1%; against an open from CO, raise 12% of hands and call 1%; against an open from BTN, raise 18% of hands and call 2%.

The earlier the opener sits, the stronger their range, and the tighter you should continue.

About the numbers

The figures come from the rule-of-thumb charts on this site, not from a solver. They are a sound default to learn first. In the trainer you can edit every chart and train on the hands at the edge of the range.

The charts

• SB open raise, first in
• SB facing a UTG open
• SB facing a HJ open
• SB facing a CO open
• SB facing a BTN open

Terms in this guide

• Open raise
• Position
• Range
• 3-bet
• Out of position (OOP)

Practise it

Reading is the easy part. Play the hand of the day, or deal ten hands in the trainer and see which of these decisions cost you the most.