Blind
A blind is a forced bet posted before the cards are dealt.
The simple explanation
Blinds are forced bets that two players post before the cards are dealt. The small blind is usually half the size of the big blind. Because the blinds are paid by different players on each hand, they make sure there is always something in the pot to win.
A closer look
Blinds rotate clockwise with the button, so everybody pays them in turn. They name the stakes: a $1/$3 game has a $1 small blind and a $3 big blind. In tournaments the blinds rise at fixed intervals, which forces action and decides how many big blinds each player has left. Stealing and defending the blinds is a major part of hold'em strategy.
A practical example
In a game with $1/$2 blinds, one player posts $1 and the next posts $2 before the cards are dealt.
Full explanation
A blind is a forced bet posted before the cards are dealt.
A blind is a forced bet that a player posts before seeing their cards. In hold’em there are two blinds: the small blind, posted by the player to the left of the button, and the big blind, posted by the player after that.
Blinds replace the ante in games like hold’em. They create the initial pot and give players a reason to compete for it. The player who posts a blind is not betting blind in the sense of acting without information: the blind is simply a forced part of the bet.
Games are described by their blinds. A $1/$3 no-limit hold’em game has a $1 small blind and a $3 big blind. In tournaments the blinds increase on a schedule.
A related idea is a blind bet, in which a player bets without looking at their cards.
The blinds are already posted
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
On this heads-up table, Player A is both the button and small blind. A has posted 1 and B has posted the big blind of 2. These are forced bets, made before the players choose whether to call, raise or fold.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
On this heads-up table, Player A is both the button and small blind. A has posted 1 and B has posted the big blind of 2. These are forced bets, made before the players choose whether to call, raise or fold.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.