Poker is one of the most popular card games played around the world. It involves strategy, skill, and a little bit of luck.
One of the most important aspects of playing poker is understanding how to play the blinds. The blinds are mandatory bets that are made by two players at the table before any cards are dealt. In this tutorial, we will explain everything you need to know about playing poker blinds.
First off, let’s define what the blinds are. The blinds are two forced bets that are placed by the two players to the left of the dealer button.
The player to the immediate left of the dealer button posts a small blind while the player to their left posts a big blind. The amount of these bets is predetermined and is usually based on the stakes being played.
The purpose of these mandatory bets is to create action and ensure that there is always something in the pot for players to win. Without blinds, players could simply wait for premium hands and not risk any chips until they had a strong hand.
Now that we understand what blinds are, let’s dive into how they work in a game of poker. At the start of each hand, two players post their respective blinds before any cards are dealt.
Once all players have been dealt their cards, betting action begins with the player to the left of the big blind (the player who posted more). This betting round continues clockwise around the table until all players have either called (matched) or raised their bets.
Once this initial betting round is complete, three community cards (the flop) are dealt face up on the table. Another round of betting occurs with action starting from the first active player to the left of the dealer button (this may or may not be one of the players who posted a blind).
After this round of betting concludes, another community card (the turn) is dealt followed by another round of betting and finally, a fifth community card (the river) is dealt followed by a final round of betting.
Once all betting is complete, the remaining players reveal their hands and the player with the best hand wins the pot. If there is a tie, the pot is split between those players.
Now that we understand how blinds work in a game of poker, let’s take a look at some important strategy considerations when playing from the blinds.
1. Defend Your Blind: Because you have already put chips in the pot, it can be tempting to call raises with weak hands just to see if you get lucky on the flop.
However, this is a losing strategy over time. Instead, only defend your blind with strong hands and fold everything else.
2. Don’t Get Trapped: It can be easy to get trapped into calling raises when you have already posted a big blind. However, if you are holding weak cards, it’s better to fold and wait for a better spot.
3. Steal Blinds: When you are in late position or on the button and everyone has folded to you, it’s often profitable to raise and attempt to steal the blinds from the players who posted them.
4. Adjust Your Play Based on Stack Sizes: If you or your opponents have short stacks (fewer chips), this can impact how aggressively you should play from the blinds. If an opponent has less than 10 big blinds remaining, for example, they may be forced to go all-in pre-flop which could impact your decision-making process.
In conclusion, playing poker blinds is an essential aspect of any poker game. Understanding how they work and implementing effective strategies can help increase your profits over time.
Remember to defend your blind only with strong hands, avoid getting trapped into calling raises with weak hands and steal blinds whenever possible. Good luck at the tables!
