Beginner Optimal Hands to Complete or Raise from the Small Blind David Parker URL has been copied successfully! Raising with better hands and folding weak holdings will help you avoid difficult spots Playing from the small blind can be tricky for beginners because you act out of position after the flop. The key decision is whether to complete the blind, raise, or fold. Understanding which hands work best in each spot helps reduce mistakes and control losses. When action folds to you, raising is usually stronger than just completing. Hands like medium pocket pairs, suited aces, broadway cards, and strong suited connectors often perform well as raises. A raise gives you initiative and can win the pot before the flop. Completing the small blind can still make sense with hands that play well multiway but aren’t strong enough to raise. Suited connectors, small pocket pairs, and suited kings can be completed when the big blind is passive and unlikely to apply pressure. Weak offsuit hands are usually the biggest trap. Hands like low offsuit gappers or weak unsuited aces tend to lose value quickly out of position. Beginners often overplay these hands, but folding them will save chips over time. When facing a raise from late position, your range should tighten. Strong hands like pocket pairs, suited broadways, and suited aces can be played, often as a re-raise. Flat-calling with marginal hands puts you at a disadvantage after the flop. Stack size also matters. With deeper stacks, suited hands and small pairs gain value because of implied odds. With short stacks, prioritize hands that can make strong top pairs or play well in all-in situations.