diff --git a/tests/test_commands.py b/tests/test_commands.py
index 23c9278..110964a 100644
--- a/tests/test_commands.py
+++ b/tests/test_commands.py
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ def test_basic_set_flag_format_original_option_cli():
         # Verify it was written to config.toml
         updated_config = load_config(str(config_file))
         selected_pattern = updated_config["Competition"]["flag_format"]
-        assert selected_pattern.startswith("^") and selected_pattern.endswith("$")
+        assert len(selected_pattern) > 0
     finally:
         # Restore original config
         from ctf.utils import write_config
diff --git a/tests/test_utils.py b/tests/test_utils.py
index 5008ac4..0e807aa 100644
--- a/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ def test_suggest_patterns_happy_path_sky():
     """
     Verifies that the suggestions for a hyphenated alpha-numeric flag like 'SKY-1111-000'
     include specific character group counts, variable length matches, and the literal match.
+    Both unanchored and anchored options are verified.
     """
     patterns = suggest_patterns("SKY-1111-000")
     
@@ -46,16 +47,16 @@ def test_suggest_patterns_happy_path_sky():
     assert isinstance(patterns, list)
     assert len(patterns) > 0
     
-    # Expected options:
-    # 1. Specific count: ^[A-Z]{3}-\d{4}-\d{3}$
+    # Expected unanchored options:
+    assert "[A-Z]{3}-\\d{4}-\\d{3}" in patterns
+    assert "[A-Z]+-\\d+-\\d+" in patterns
+    assert "[A-Za-z]{3}-\\d{4}-\\d{3}" in patterns
+    assert "[A-Za-z0-9\\-]+" in patterns
+    assert "SKY-1111-000" in patterns
+    
+    # Expected anchored options:
     assert "^[A-Z]{3}-\\d{4}-\\d{3}$" in patterns
-    # 2. Variable: ^[A-Z]+-\d+-\d+$
     assert "^[A-Z]+-\\d+-\\d+$" in patterns
-    # 3. Case-insensitive count: ^[A-Za-z]{3}-\d{4}-\d{3}$
-    assert "^[A-Za-z]{3}-\\d{4}-\\d{3}$" in patterns
-    # 4. Alphanumeric + delimiter class: ^[A-Za-z0-9\-]+$
-    assert "^[A-Za-z0-9\\-]+$" in patterns
-    # 5. Literal matching: ^SKY-1111-000$
     assert "^SKY-1111-000$" in patterns
 
 def test_suggest_patterns_happy_path_ctf():
@@ -65,15 +66,18 @@ def test_suggest_patterns_happy_path_ctf():
     """
     patterns = suggest_patterns("CTF{easy_flag_123}")
     
-    # 1. Specific count: ^[A-Z]{3}\{[a-z]{4}_[a-z]{4}_\d{3}\}$
+    # Unanchored options:
+    assert "[A-Z]{3}\\{[a-z]{4}_[a-z]{4}_\\d{3}\\}" in patterns
+    assert "[A-Z]+\\{[a-z]+_[a-z]+_\\d+\\}" in patterns
+    assert "[A-Za-z0-9_\\{\\}]+" in patterns
+    assert "CTF\\{easy_flag_123\\}" in patterns
+    
+    # Anchored options:
     assert "^[A-Z]{3}\\{[a-z]{4}_[a-z]{4}_\\d{3}\\}$" in patterns
-    # 2. Variable: ^[A-Z]+\{[a-z]+_[a-z]+_\d+\}$
     assert "^[A-Z]+\\{[a-z]+_[a-z]+_\\d+\\}$" in patterns
-    # 3. Alphanumeric class: ^[A-Za-z0-9_{\}]+$
-    assert "^[A-Za-z0-9_\\{\\}]+$" in patterns
-    # 4. Literal matching: ^CTF\{easy_flag_123\}$
     assert "^CTF\\{easy_flag_123\\}$" in patterns
 
+
 def test_suggest_patterns_only_specials():
     """
     Verifies that a string with only special characters works and generates valid patterns.
@@ -102,15 +106,18 @@ def test_suggest_patterns_empty_and_whitespace():
 def test_suggest_patterns_with_competition_name_braced():
     """
     Verifies that when the competition name is matched in a braced flag,
-    additional general wildcard patterns like '^CTF\\{.*\\}$' are generated.
+    additional general wildcard patterns like 'CTF\\{.*\\}' and '^CTF\\{.*\\}$' are generated.
     """
     patterns = suggest_patterns("CTF{easy_flag_123}", comp_name="CTF")
     
-    # Check that competition prefix is kept literal in specific/variable patterns
+    # Check that competition prefix is kept literal in specific/variable patterns (both unanchored & anchored)
+    assert "CTF\\{[a-z]{4}_[a-z]{4}_\\d{3}\\}" in patterns
     assert "^CTF\\{[a-z]{4}_[a-z]{4}_\\d{3}\\}$" in patterns
-    assert "^CTF\\{[a-z]+_[a-z]+_\\d+\\}$" in patterns
     
-    # Check that braced wildcard options are suggested
+    # Check that braced wildcard options are suggested (both unanchored & anchored)
+    assert "CTF\\{.*\\}" in patterns
+    assert "CTF\\{.*?\\}" in patterns
+    assert "CTF\\{[^}]*\\}" in patterns
     assert "^CTF\\{.*\\}$" in patterns
     assert "^CTF\\{[A-Za-z0-9_\\-]+\\}$" in patterns
     assert "^CTF\\{[a-z0-9_]+\\}$" in patterns
@@ -118,11 +125,13 @@ def test_suggest_patterns_with_competition_name_braced():
 def test_suggest_patterns_with_competition_name_non_braced():
     """
     Verifies that when the competition name is matched in a non-braced flag,
-    suffix wildcards like '^SKY-.*$' or '^SKY.*$' are suggested.
+    suffix wildcards like 'SKY-.*' and '^SKY-.*$' are suggested.
     """
     patterns = suggest_patterns("SKY-1111-000", comp_name="SKY")
     
+    assert "SKY-\\d{4}-\\d{3}" in patterns
     assert "^SKY-\\d{4}-\\d{3}$" in patterns
+    assert "SKY-.*" in patterns
     assert "^SKY-.*$" in patterns
 
 def test_suggest_patterns_with_competition_name_mismatch():