Big Blind Small Blind Chips

Put in front of a player who has wagered all their chips. Blind, Small Blind with Big Blind: Put in front of the players to show they owe the indicated amounts. The blind button is used in single blind games, while the big and small blind are used together in double blind games. Missed Blind, Missed Big Blind, Missed Small Blind. The little blind usually is half the amount of the big blind. Here's an example: You're in seat five of a nine-handed $4-$8 limit hold 'em cash game and the dealer button reaches seat three.

Blind bets are used in Texas hold’em to get chips into the pot before the cards are dealt out. They are compulsory. Usually there are two blinds — the small blind and the big blind.

For example, in a $4-$8 game, the small blind (SB) is two $1 chips placed on the board by the player seated just to the left of the Button. And the big blind (BB) costs four $1 chips by the player just to the left of the SB. That serves to get the game started.

Big Blind Small Blind Chips For Sale

After the BB and SB post their respective blinds, the dealer starts by dealing two cards to each player, face-down — their hole cards. The first round of betting starts with the player to the left of the BB. After the Button acts, the SB must add two more chips to see the flop.

If there is a raise along the way, he must call the raise plus two more chips. Alternatively, he can raise the bet if he so chooses. In that case, each of the players still in the pot have the option to call the raise or re-raise. That includes the BB. The dealer will then deal three cards face-up — the flop.

Consider the situation when, before the flop, everyone has folded to the Button. At that point, he may raise it up. “Raise!” he announces aloud. In a $4-$8 limit game, he bets $8. The BB and SB then have three options: call the raise, re-raise, or muck their cards.

More often than not, they will both have been dealt weak or marginal starting hands; and so, will fold their hands, leaving the pot to the raiser. The Button’s raise then wins the pot — albeit a very small one. The dealer will rake one chip.

But do that often enough, and it adds up. Many players are wont to “steal the blinds” in this way. Even if one of the blinds has a reasonable starting hand, most often he will fold his cards, reasoning that the raiser probably has a much better hand than he, and his pot odds are poor.

In a somewhat similar situation, a skilled player in the Cut-Off position — just to the right of the Button — may make a raise before the Button. If the Button and both blinds muck their cards, the Cut-Off takes the pot. This ploy is best used when the Button is a tight player, and not loose — aggressive. It pays to know your opponents, especially those to your immediate left.

Should the Button fold, but one of the two blinds elects to call the raise, the Cut-Off will have gained position, essentially becoming the virtual Button — last to act. Thus, the Cut-Off now can see how the blind plays his hand on the flop and on subsequent rounds of betting before he must act, without fear of being reraised.

That gives him a real edge — a significant advantage for the rest of the hand.

A skilled player in the Cut-Off position will glance to his left as he contemplates making a raise pre-flop to see if the Button or one if the Blinds is anxiously gathering chips to raise the bet.

That’s a great tell. Like “an ounce of prevention,” he then can muck his hole cards without having to invest a double bet or more. Note: The chips you save are more valuable than those you win. But, just in case one of them has a strong hand, it is best to have at least a marginal starting hand when making this raise.

Likewise, the skilled player may have previously observed that the Button is very aggressive, and prone to raise in such cases. Wisely, he will plan to change his seat when the opportunity arises, so that the aggressive player is to his right, and must act before he must decide if he wants to make that raise.

What are poker blinds ?

Based on the limit of the poker game the player to the left of the dealer’s button (small blind) and the player two to the left of the dealer (big blind) are required to place mandatory bets in the pot before cards are dealt (Small blind has to put half of the big blinds amount). These bets count toward the first round of betting. So if the pot is not raised pre-flop, small blind will only have to put half a bet to call and big blind has the option of raising or just checking.

In a poker tournament, blinds go up gradually. This is to ensure that the tournament finishes on a timely manner. (the higher the blinds get the more players tend to get eliminated).

Blinds usually go up after predetermined periods of time. (for example every 15 or 20 minutes).

Big Blind Small Blind Chips That Look

Two main factors determine blind structure of the game:

• Starting chip amount
• How long you want the tournament to last.

Poker Blind Structure Tips

• The first big blind should be 1/50 of the starting chip amount. (or the starting chip amount should be 50 times the starting big blind). So if everyone starts with 1000 in chips the first big blind should be 10/20.
• Blind period is the time each blind lasts:
• Typical tournament blind periods are 10, 15, 20, 30, or 60 minutes.
• Blinds period should be the same for every blind.

• The faster the blind period is the faster the tournament ends and the more luck involves. So it’s a good idea to have slightly longer blind periods at your house game. 15 or 20 minute blind periods are good choices. Blinds in online websites tend to go up faster. This is because online poker action is much faster than live poker.
• Blinds typically double after each round. If the first big blind is 10/20, the next one should be 20/40.

Calculate Blind Structure

Follow these simple steps to create blind structure that best fits your game:

• Decide your starting chip amount.
• Divide it by 50. This should be your first big blind.
• Make your final big blind (when the tournament should finish) equal to your starting chip amount.
• Arrange the middle level blinds so that they gradually increase from your first big blind to the last one. It is best to keep the first couple blind periods low.
• Add the period (times) together. If it seems too long takes couple levels off the chart, and if it seems short add couple level to the chart.

Sample Tournament Blind Structure Chart

Small Blind Big Blind Meaning

Following is a chart of recommended blind structures based on different starting chip stacks :

Big Blind Small Blind Dealer