Blinds

What are blinds?  Blinds are mandatory bets in a poker game and especially used in Texas Hold’em and Omaha Hold’em. In general there are two blinds, but it is also possible to use one blind or more than two blinds. The blinds name is derived from the fact that a poker player is required to place a bet without seeing his cards.

So, in general there are the small blind and big blind. The poker player left of the dealer has the small blind. The poker player left of the small blind has the big blind. The big blind is twice the value of the small blind.

Blinds are used for several reasons. The main reason is that this rule makes sure there is a winner at all times. If everyone folds before the flop, then the player with the big blind is the winner. In addition, the player with the big blind is eager to play, because he wants to defend his chips at a pre flop raise. Another reason for using blinds is to force players to actually play. In a tournament the blinds will increase by time. Players who do not play many pots or only lose small pots are required to place a blind when it is their turn. Their stack is decreasing, so they will have to play to maintain their stack size. Otherwise they will disappear from the tournament.

Blind Strategy

The poker players with the blinds will defend their chips, because they don’t want to waste these chips. Even when they have a bad hand. Do not be blinded by the blinds. When nobody raised before the flop and you have one of the blinds, then wait for the flop. You can try to bluff before the flop, but the reality shows that experienced players do not leave before the flop. If you haven’t hit anything, put your cards away! If there is a pre flop raise, and you, as a blind, have a bad hand, then just take your loss.

If you did hit something good as a blind, then you can raise the flop. This looks like a bluff or a defensive action, which seduces other poker players to go along. Another tactic is to call (or check if there isn’t raised) and wait for the flop. This is a typical case of slow play.