Live cash games
How to play the small blind
You act first after the flop from the small blind. That changes which hands you play and how.
Short answer
Folded to you, the Aced Poker chart raises 21% of hands to 3bb and limps 58%. It folds the other 21%.
Facing an open, the small blind 3bets or folds. Calling invites the big blind in behind.
SB strategy: raise or limp. Free lesson, 5 min.
Small blind, folded to you
- Raise 3bb 21%
- Limp 58%
- Fold 21%
Close to solver SB open (limp or raise). 9-handed cash, 100bb. Aced built this chart by hand to match published solver results. It is close but not exact.
Show every hand as text
Raise 3bb every time
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Raise 3bb part of the time
A8s 70%A7s 50%A6s 40%A5s 80%A4s 70%A3s 55%A2s 45%K9s 65%K8s 40%K7s 30%K6s 25%K5s 25%K4s 15%K3s 15%K2s 15%Q9s 50%Q8s 25%Q7s 15%Q6s 15%QJo 55%JTs 70%J9s 40%J8s 15%J4s 15%KTo 65%QTo 35%JTo 30%T9s 45%T8s 20%T5s 15%A9o 65%K9o 40%Q9o 20%J9o 15%T9o 15%98s 30%97s 20%95s 15%A8o 45%K8o 20%87s 25%86s 15%85s 15%A7o 35%77 65%76s 25%75s 15%74s 15%A6o 20%J6o 10%T6o 10%96o 10%66 50%65s 20%64s 15%63s 15%A5o 40%Q5o 10%55 30%54s 20%53s 15%A4o 25%A3o 15%A2o 15%
Limp every time
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Limp part of the time
A8s 30%A7s 50%A6s 60%A5s 20%A4s 30%A3s 45%A2s 55%K9s 35%K8s 60%K7s 70%K6s 75%K5s 75%K4s 85%K3s 85%K2s 85%Q9s 50%Q8s 75%Q7s 85%Q6s 85%QJo 45%JTs 30%J9s 60%J8s 85%J4s 85%KTo 35%QTo 65%JTo 70%T9s 55%T8s 80%T5s 85%A9o 35%K9o 60%Q9o 80%J9o 85%T9o 85%98s 70%97s 80%95s 85%A8o 55%K8o 80%87s 75%86s 85%85s 85%A7o 65%77 35%76s 75%75s 85%74s 85%A6o 80%J6o 90%T6o 90%96o 90%66 50%65s 80%64s 85%63s 85%A5o 60%Q5o 90%T5o 60%95o 60%85o 50%55 70%54s 80%53s 85%A4o 75%J4o 60%T4o 10%74o 20%64o 60%54o 60%A3o 85%J3o 20%53o 20%A2o 85%Q2o 60%
Hands not listed fold.
The small blind, spot by spot
| Spot | Share of hands |
|---|---|
| Folded to you, limp or raise Close to solver | Raise 3bb 21% Limp 58% Fold 21% |
| Folded to you, raise only Close to solver | Raise 3bb 42% Fold 58% |
| Cutoff opens Close to solver | 3bet 11bb 12% Fold 88% |
| Button opens Close to solver | 3bet 11bb 17% Fold 83% |
| Button opens 5bb Estimate | 3bet 22bb 12% Fold 88% |
| 1 limper Exploit | Iso raise 6bb 10% Complete 14% Fold 76% |
| 2 limpers Exploit | Iso raise 8bb 5% Complete 21% Fold 74% |
Share of all starting hands. 100bb stacks. Close to solver means Aced built the chart by hand to match published solver results. Estimate means Aced derived the chart by rule. It is not a solve. Exploit means the chart targets a typical live limper. It is an approximation.
Limp or raise
Chart The chart raises strong hands and some bluffs to 3bb. It limps the wide middle.
Chart Against one limper it raises to 6bb and completes hands that play well multiway.
FAQ
Questions players ask.
Should I limp from the small blind?
Often. When it folds to you the chart limps 58% of hands.
Should I call a raise from the small blind?
Aced Poker's 7 small blind charts against an open never flat. They 3bet or fold.
What do I do in the small blind when people limp?
Complete hands that play well multiway. Against one limper the chart raises 10% of hands and completes 14%.
Practice this spot.
Aced Poker grades every decision and brings back the hands you miss.
Drill this chart