Small Blind (Poker)

The small blind is one of two automatic bets that must be made by player in a game, regardless of the strength of their hand. Much like the big blind, these bets are essential in ensuring that there is money (or chips) in each pot.

If these bets were not in place, players would simply fold every hand and wait for a monster hand to play. The way the game works, particularly in tournament poker, these blinds increase over the space of the tournament and so it becomes important to pick up these blinds through agrssive play.

The small blind is usually half the value of the big blind and the person left of the dealer button would be the one to post it. The dealer button always indicates who posts the blinds and moves round the table clockwise so every player gets an equal turn to post these bets. If a player raises the pot 200 chips and the person on the small blind has 50 chips in the pot already they would simply have to put in another 150 to match the raise.

Whilst the big and small blinds have to be made, when you post them, they are still yours and simly mean you would have to put in less to match any raise on the table.