Blind
Rules Level · Beginner Aliases: blinds, forced blind, small blind and big blind
A blind is a forced bet posted before cards are dealt, by a designated position, to start the action.
What is Blind
A blind is a mandatory bet a player posts before seeing any cards, which creates the starting pot and gives players a reason to act. Standard Texas Hold’em uses a small blind and a big blind, and both positions move one seat with the button each hand. At a multiway table the small blind sits immediately left of the button and the big blind one seat further. The big blind sets the minimum full bet preflop, and the small blind is usually smaller, though the exact ratio depends on the structure. Heads up, the button is also the small blind and acts first preflop. Blinds are not the same as antes, which may be posted by all players or by one designated position.
On the felt
Table6-max cash game
PositionSB and BB
FlopPreflop
ActionPost 0.5BB and 1BB before the deal
Example
In a 0.5/1BB game the small blind posts 0.5BB and the big blind posts 1BB before any cards are dealt, so the pot starts at 1.5BB. Those two forced bets are the blinds, and preflop action follows.
Common mistakes
- Thinking blinds are posted after seeing your cards. They are forced and go in before the deal.
- Assuming the small blind is always half the big blind. That is the common structure, but the actual amount follows the game's rules.
Related terms
Ante
An ante is a forced chip contribution made before each hand, by every player or by the big blind.
Buy-in
A buy-in is the amount paid to join a game or tournament in exchange for starting chips.
Heads Up
Heads up means only two players remain, either at the table or in the pot.
Rake
Rake is the fee a card room takes from the pot or from tournament entries to run the game.
Showdown
A showdown is when the remaining players reveal their cards after the last bet to compare their best five.
Bad Beat
A bad beat is a hand that was a heavy favourite when the chips went in but lost to an unlikely runout.