Big and small blinds in poker: what they are, charts for protection and rests

When downloading an online casino to your mobile phone, you need to analyse potential pitfalls in detail and get acquainted with the industry terminology. Today, the term blind, which is actively used by bettors, has come under the spotlight. This is the name of the fundamental mandatory bets imposed by the game rules. They become a source of primary financial losses at the preflop stage. Balanced defence strategies against all positions – from the earliest to the button – are crucial for minimising these losses.

Also known as blind bets, blind bets are one of those terms that need no explanation. Players literally remain ‘blind’ to their cards until they make the mandatory deposits to the bank. Compulsory bets have become an integral part of all poker games at the top online casinos, allowing players to fill the pot before they receive their cards. In Hold’em and Omaha poker, there are two types of blinds: the big blind (BB) and the small blind (SB).

The big blind, the second number in the limit designation, is made by the player sitting to the left of the dealer. The small blind, the first number in the limit, is half of the total bet at the table and is made by the player to the left of the big blind. The participants who have to make these initial contributions to the pot are called the small and big blinds, respectively. It is important to realise that these mandatory bets are not just a formality, but a strategically important part of the game that affects the further actions of all participants in the hand.

Read also: 3-bet in poker: what it is and how to use it on the preflop.

Features of the blind value and its role

When it comes to mandatory bets in poker, they play the role of a provocateur for active actions. A skilfully conducted fight for a small pot can bring significant winnings. If opponents are not ready to fight, this provides a great chance to win.

Sitting back and just watching the hand is a sure way to lose your chips due to mandatory bets. Rare appearances in the game with premium hands, such as a pair of aces, are easily recognised by opponents and lead to their refusal to participate in the hand without adding money to the pot. In addition to the big and small blinds, Hold’em and Omaha poker variations have another type of mandatory bets – ante. It is much smaller than the big blind and is paid by each participant in the hand.

Situations when a hand starts without a small blind are rare. This happens if the player who was supposed to make this bet left the game or lost his stack in the previous hand. In less common types of poker, the concept of blinds may disappear. In games like Stud and Razz, for example, the player with the lowest or highest open hand is called by the bringer. In Draw and Lowball, antes are used instead of big and small blinds.

Conducting tournaments

Globally, blinds play an important role in the direction of tournament poker. In tournaments, their size is constantly increasing, which reduces the stacks of players, encouraging them to take active action and keep their chips. The ante level increases with each tournament level.

The rate of increase in mandatory bets determines the pace and dynamics of the tournament. There are several types of structures:

• slow – bets increase every 12 minutes;
• standard – steadily every 8-10 minutes;
• turbo – every 5-6 minutes;
• hyper-turbo – every 2-3 minutes.

Experienced players know which structure suits their playing style and prefer to participate in tournaments that match their strategy. In the later stages of tournaments, the number of big blinds in poker becomes a guideline for deciding whether to go all-in or fold. The smaller the player’s stack, the more often he decides to go all-in before the dealing of the common cards.

Read also: Who is a high roller in poker and how to become one.

Protecting blind bets

Poker players often have to decide how to actively defend their blinds and get the most out of difficult positions at the table. When a poker player finds himself on the small blind, he should remember that this position requires special attention. It is important to be able to distinguish between situations when you should actively resist the attacks of your opponents and when it is better to limit yourself to calling and wait for a more favourable moment. After all, the level of aggression is important, but the ability to make a sober and competent choice between a call and a raise is an art.

The big blind, on the other hand, offers some advantages. The player in the big blind has the right to be the last to respond in preflop, which can help in better understanding the situation. However, it is also important to be able to distinguish between the moments when you should give up and concede the pot to your opponent, and the situations when you should actively protect your interests and strive to win.

Playing in the blinds is not just a moment when you need to make a bet and wait for the general cards. This is a complex decision that requires knowledge of the psychology of the game, the ability to read opponents and make decisions based on a thorough analysis of the situation. An integral element is a key element of the strategy that can bring both success and losses, depending on the player’s ability to use their knowledge and intuition.

Mistakes of beginners

The main task of a person who has connected his life with poker is not only to behave impartially, but also to take responsibility for every step. Entering the game from the small and big blind positions is a real art in poker. Beginners often face difficulties in these positions due to limited opportunities for action and potential losses. In the small blind (SB) position, novice bettors often make mistakes by expanding their betting ranges too wide. Sometimes they put half of the standard bet into the pot, hoping for favourable chances of winning, without taking into account that playing without position and initiative is a difficult task. Experienced gamblers sitting in the big blind (BB) can easily exploit this weakness by making big raises.

Some of the newcomers also overestimate the value of the money already invested in the pot and respond too broadly to open-raises and 3-bets. Other players do not take into account pot odds and, on the contrary, do not expand their call ranges. Correcting these mistakes requires a serious study of theory and analysis of many hands. It is important to consider the realities of the game, take into account potential combinations and develop various game plans.

The best solution in the small and big blinds may be to participate in the pot with less strong but speculative hands, such as suited connectors and low pairs. These starting combinations can easily become game-winning, even in the absence of a positional advantage, and can be successfully completed in various scenarios. In conclusion, if you were looking for a casino with a deposit from 10 UAH, please follow this link. Read more information about the gambling industry in our blog.

FAQ: Big and small blind in poker