Poker Blinds

Blinds are essential to most Poker games, especially Texas Hold'em and Omaha. They help ensure that there is always action and money in the pot.

The concept of blinds can be confusing for new players, so this guide explains everything you need to know about big blind and small blind Poker table positions, from their purpose to how they influence gameplay.

What are Blinds in Poker?

Blinds are forced bets that must be placed by two players sitting to the immediate left of the dealer button before any cards are dealt. These forced bets create an initial pot, ensuring something to play for in every hand.

What is Small Blind and Big Blind

Blinds are typically divided into two categories:

1. Small Blind (SB) – This is the smaller of the two blinds, placed by the player directly to the left of the dealer button.
2. Big Blind (BB) – This is the larger of the two blinds, placed by the player sitting immediately to the left of the small blind.

For example, in a ₹50/ ₹100 game:

• The small blind is ₹50.
• The big blind is ₹1oo.

Purpose of Poker Blinds

Blinds serve several important purposes in Poker:

1. Initiate Action: Blinds create action by forcing two players to post bets before the hand starts. Without blinds, players might be inclined to fold their hands until they pick up premium cards, slowing down the game significantly.
2. Generate Pot Size: Blinds contribute to building the pot, giving players a financial reason to compete. This ensures there is always money to be won in every hand.
3. Encourage Aggressive Play: With money already in the pot, players have more incentive to engage in action, even with marginal hands, which keeps the game interesting.

Types of Blinds

Different types of poker games use various blind structures. Here are the most common types:

1. Fixed Blinds

The blinds remain constant throughout the game. This format is typical in cash games, where the blinds stay at the same level for each hand (e.g., ₹1/₹2, ₹5/₹10).

2. Rising Blinds (Tournament Blinds)

In poker tournaments, blinds are increased regularly to ensure the tournament progresses. For example, a tournament might start with ₹50/₹100 blinds, increasing every 15 minutes to ₹100/₹200, and so on.

3. Ante Blinds

In some games, in addition to the small and big blinds, all players post an ante — a smaller forced bet. This type of game is common in later stages of tournaments to keep the pot size growing and the action flowing.

4. Straddle

A straddle is an optional blind bet that a player can make before the cards are dealt. It usually amounts to twice the size of the big blind and is often placed by the person seated immediately to the left of the big blind. Straddles are frequently used in high-stakes cash games, leading to larger pots right from the start.

How to Rotate Blinds

Poker blinds circulate around the table with each hand in Texas Hold 'em. The dealer button advances one position to the left after every round, requiring different players to place the small and big blinds for each following hand. Poker blind rules ensure that all participants contribute fairly to the pot over time.

For instance:

• On the one hand, Player A places the small blind while Player B posts the big blind.
• In the following hand, the dealer button shifts positions, with Player B placing the small blind and Player C placing the big blind.

Blind Levels in Poker Tournaments

In Poker tournaments, the blind levels rise progressively to compel players to act. Tournament structures feature varying time intervals for these increases, such as every 15 or 20 minutes.

Here’s an example of blind levels in a standard tournament:

These increasing blind levels add pressure, especially to players with smaller stacks, who must decide strategically when to play more aggressively.

Strategy Around Blinds

Understanding the blinds in Poker and developing a strategy for playing from these positions is crucial to outsmarting your opponents.

1. Small Blind Strategy

• Playing from the small blind can be tricky, as you are out of position post-flop, meaning you must act before the other players.
• It is generally advisable to play fewer hands from the small blind unless you have a strong hand. If you call or raise, you will face the big blind, and potentially other players, from an awkward position.
• However, the small blind offers cheaper access to the pot, and if you are up against only one player (typically the big blind), it can be an opportunity to win the pot with more aggressive play.

2. Big Blind Strategy

• The big blind sees more action since it is a larger forced bet.
• As the big blind, you have already invested more money in the pot, so it may be worth defending against raises with a wider range of hands.
• Defending the big blind becomes even more important in heads-up situations or when facing small raises from late-position players, as you have favourable pot odds to continue in hand.

3. Late Position Advantage

• Players in late positions (the cutoff or the button) often try to steal blinds by making aggressive raises, especially when the blinds are weak or passive players.
• Understanding the playing pattern of players in the blinds can help you develop a strategy for when to attempt blind steals.

Stealing the Blind

Stealing blinds in Texas Hold’em refers to raising to get the players in the small and big blinds to fold and ‘steal’ their forced bets.

• Blind Stealing Strategy: If you are on the button or in a late position and everyone has folded to you, make a raise to steal the blinds. This works best if the blinds are tight players who fold easily to aggression.
• Defending the Blinds: When you are in the big blind position, defending against steal attempts by calling or re-raising is often wise. However, this strategy requires knowledge of what is blind in Poker and a thoughtful assessment of your opponent's behaviour patterns and the strength of your hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do the big and small blinds differ?

The small blind, which is half the value of the big blind, is placed by the player immediately to the dealer's left. The player next to them posts a larger mandatory bet known as the big blind. These blinds ensure action in each hand, with players taking turns paying them as the dealer button rotates around the table.

How do blinds work in tournaments?

In tournaments, big blind small blind increase at set intervals (for example - every 15 minutes) to keep the game progressing. Players must act strategically as blinds rise, especially with lower chip stacks, to avoid being ‘blinded out’.

Can blinds be skipped?

No, blinds cannot be skipped in Poker. Each player must post blinds when it's their turn, as they rotate with the dealer button. If a player leaves and returns, they must post the big blind or wait a turn, depending on the game’s rules.

Conclusion

Blinds are more than just forced bets. They shape the structure and strategy of a Poker game. Learning what a poker blind is, from defending the big blind to attacking weak blinds from late positions, is key to improving your game. Whether in cash games or tournaments, understanding how to adapt your strategy based on blinds will give you a competitive edge.