If no one has raised (to $8 in this case) when the action gets back around to you, you have two options - you can check, since you're already in for the $4 bet, or you can raise to $8. On the first betting round, action starts with the player to your left in seat six, a position called 'under the gun,' meaning first to act.įrom the big blind, you are last to act before the flop. Two down cards are then dealt to each player, starting with the small blind. The player to your right in seat four must post the $2 small blind. That means you are in the big blind position and must put $4 in front of you before the cards are dealt. You're in seat five of a nine-handed $4-$8 limit hold 'em cash game and the dealer button reaches seat three. The little blind usually is half the amount of the big blind. That rotates the advantage of last action and assures that for every circuit of the button around the table, each player will pay the two blinds once. The button moves clockwise one position for each new hand. On the first betting round, the two players in the blinds act after the button, then are first to act on remaining betting rounds. Except for the first betting round, the player with the dealer button gets to act last throughout the hand. The dealer for each hand is designated by a round disk called a button. There's one key difference: Unlike stud and draw poker, in which every player must pay the same pre-determined ante before each deal, in hold 'em only the first two players to the left of the dealer position have to post a blind. Think of the blinds as antes used to stimulate betting and initiate play.

Well, Dale, since I had the same question this month from John, a co-worker of mine in Moline, Ill., it's a good time to explain the blinds in hold 'em. Would you please explain how the big blind and little blind work in hold 'em? I'm sure many of us who read LuckyDog have no idea. I don't still play, but like to read about poker strategy. I used to play stud and draw poker with neighbors. Nothing seems to confuse new Texas hold 'em players more than the blinds.

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