Blinds are mandatory forced bets placed by one or more players at the start of each hand in certain poker variants, most notably Texas Hold’em and Omaha, before any cards are dealt. Their primary purpose is to generate an initial pot, creating an incentive for players to participate and contest the hand. There are typically two blinds: the “small blind” (SB) and the “big blind” (BB), with the big blind usually being double the amount of the small blind.
Example
Imagine a No-Limit Hold’em cash game with blinds set at $1/$2. The player immediately to the left of the dealer button posts the small blind of $1. The player to their left then posts the big blind of $2. These two forced bets create an initial pot of $3 before any player has even received their hole cards, and the action then proceeds clockwise starting with the player to the left of the big blind.
Strategy Tip
Understanding blinds is fundamental to poker strategy. For intermediate players, recognizing the positional disadvantage of playing from the blinds (as you act first post-flop) is crucial. This often dictates playing a tighter range of hands from these positions. Conversely, understanding “blind stealing” (raising from late position to force the blinds to fold) and “blind defense” (calling or re-raising from the blinds to protect your forced investment) are essential tactics. In tournaments, the constant increase of blinds and antes puts significant pressure on players’ stack sizes, making it vital to adjust your strategy to survive and accumulate chips.
FAQ
- Q: Why are they called “blinds”?
- A: They are called “blinds” because the players placing these bets do so “blindly,” meaning they commit chips to the pot before they have seen any of their hole cards.
- Q: What happens if a player misses their turn to post a blind?
- A: If a player misses their turn to post a blind (e.g., they step away from the table), they typically have to post a “missed blind” or “dead blind” equal to the big blind amount when they return to ensure fairness. Sometimes they may also need to post an additional amount for the small blind. They can usually wait for the big blind to come to them naturally if they prefer not to post the missed blind immediately.
- Q: Do blinds increase in poker tournaments?
- A: Yes, absolutely. In poker tournaments, the blinds (and often antes, which are additional forced bets) increase at regular intervals, known as “levels.” This escalating structure is designed to apply pressure on players, accelerate the game, and eventually force action until a winner is determined. Managing your chip stack relative to the increasing blinds is a critical aspect of tournament strategy.