What is BB in poker

Most people who start their journey in the world of poker are faced with a lot of incomprehensible terms and abbreviations. However, once you start to understand these concepts, the game will make more sense and structure. One of these important terms is ‘BB’, BB or big blind.

The big blind is one of the mandatory bets in various types of poker, especially in Texas Hold’em. It is a part of the blind system that allows you to collect bets and ensure the dynamics of the game. This bet is placed before the pocket cards are dealt, which is why it is also known as a blind bet. The big blind is located to the left of the small blind, each new hand provides a clockwise shift, and players are in equal conditions. To successfully play poker with BB, you need to understand its rules well. So let’s take a look at what this term means and how it affects the course of a poker game.

What is the Big Blind

Historically, in live poker games, cards were dealt in turns to prevent cheating. This allows the players who invest their money to watch the dealer shuffle the deck. In modern poker, both in live dealer online casinos and in large live tournaments, the cards are dealt by a specially hired dealer who is not involved in the game. In online poker, the computer performs the function of dealing cards, and the player who has the ‘dealer’ button is in the most advantageous position, as he or she is always the last to move in the current round.

Each hand begins with two players placing mandatory bets, known as blinds. It is forbidden to refuse them by the rules. Most often, these are Big Blind (BB) and Small Blind (SB). They are usually placed to the left of the dealer. SB is half the minimum bet at this stage of the game, while BB is equal to the minimum bet. Each round shifts one player’s position to the left. Thus, the player who started as the dealer becomes the next small blind, and the small blind becomes the big blind.

The purpose of such bets is to increase the frequency of draws and encourage poker players to fight, even if they do not have good hands at the beginning. If there were no mandatory bets, players would only enter with high starters. And this is only 5-10% of the total number. Blinds are used in such disciplines as Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Badugah, 5-card Draw poker, Lowball 2-7 with exchange.

Read also: What is an overlay in poker.

What tasks does the Big Blind perform?

Having understood what BB is, we can talk about its main functions in poker.

• A mandatory bet of this type starts the auction and creates a ‘pot’ (a pool of bets) that players will compete for to win it. This provides an interesting and competitive game dynamic.
• Forcing players to make strategic decisions – whether to pay the bid (level) or raise it (raise).
• Fighting passivity, otherwise poker players would just sit and wait for the right elements to join the process.
• Protection against small bets, because BB is more expensive than SB. As a result, bets are more substantial and this prevents free participation in every hand.
• Ensuring equal conditions for all participants of the competition, as it allows everyone to play from different positions.

Thus, BB is an important part of the poker game, providing structure and dynamics in the hands and creating the basis for bets and strategic decisions of players.

Positions depending on BB

Positions in poker play an important role in determining when you should bet and when you should fold.

• Small Blind is an inappropriate position at the table. A player makes a bet when he sees only his own cards and one common card (the flop) with limited information about the opponents’ hands. You should be careful and make decisions only with good combinations.
• Big Blind is not much better than the previous one, as the participant has a limited overview of the situation.
• Early Position – players who sit right behind the big blinds. They have a limited idea of their opponents’ capabilities, so you should be careful. Positions in this group include such terms as Under the Gun and Early Position +1.
• Middle Position – the middle of the table sees the actions of opponents in early positions, which gives them a certain advantage. However, they still act early relative to those sitting closer to the button.
• Late Position applies to people in late positions, including the dealer (button), who have the best conditions for playing and see the actions of most players before placing their bets. This allows them to make more informed decisions and play more aggressively.
• The dealer (Button) in an online casino is considered to be the best position at the table. The poker player on the button is always the last to act at all stages of the hand, which gives him or her the most information about the opponents’ hands. This allows the player on the button to play more aggressively and choose the best moment to attack.

Position is important because it influences betting decisions and allows you to control the course of the hand. Players in late position have an advantage because they can see the actions of other players before making a decision. Understanding the differences between the positions will help you develop a more effective poker strategy.

Read also: What is an open raise in poker.

How much does Big Blind cost?

The cost depends on the level of tables and the format of the chosen game. In different types of poker and different poker rooms, the cost of the big blind can vary. For example, in Texas Hold’em, the standard betting values at different board levels can be as follows

• micro limits – 1 cent or even less;
• small – usually $1;
• medium – from 2 to 5 dollars;
• high – on high boards, where the stakes are $10/20 or more, the cost of a big blind can be much higher.

Different online poker platforms may have different betting structures. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to check the specific rules of the tables before you start playing. Now that you understand what BB is in poker, you will find the key to understanding the poker game, its dynamics and positions at the table. Remember that the big blind is not just a bet, it is the central element around which strategy is built in Texas Hold’em and many other types of poker. Understanding this term and its role will help you become a more successful and confident player. In conclusion, if you were looking for an online casino with a minimum deposit of twenty USD, please follow this link.

FAQ: What is BB in poker?