After the cards are dealt, the player to the left of the big blind is the first to act during the first betting round. If any players call the big blind, the big blind is then given an extra opportunity to raise. This is known as a live blind. If the live blind checks, the betting round then ends. 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.
A maximum of Nine (9) players are allowed per table.
A flat disk called the “Button” shall be used to indicate an imaginary dealer.
At the commencement of play, the dealer will deal each player one card face up to determine the placement of the button. Whoever receives the highest ranking card will start with the button.
The button will move around the table in a clockwise manner after each round of play.
The player to the immediate left of the button is required to place a Small Blind bet. The player to the immediate left of the Small Blind bet is required to place a Big Blind bet. A Blind bet may be required on the button.
Starting with the player to the immediate left of the button and continuing in a clockwise rotation around the Poker table, the dealer shall deal two rounds of cards face down to each player, the player with the button being the last player to receive a card each time.
Each player in turn, in a clockwise rotation starting with the player to the left of the Big Blind bet, has the option to Call, Raise or Fold. If no player has raised the bet, then the option to raise is given to both Blind bet/s. After the last player has responded to the most recent bet, the betting round shall be considered complete.
The dealer will Tap the table in front of the rack, burn the top card of the deck and place it under the pot, and proceed to deal three community cards (the flop) face-up in the center of the table.
The next betting round will begin with the option to bet or check belonging to the first player to the left of the button who has not folded. Each player may, in clockwise rotation, fold, call, raise the bet or, if preceding players have not made a bet, make an opening bet or check. The betting round shall be considered complete when each player has either folded or called in response to the most recent bet.
Upon completion of the betting round the dealer will again burn the top card of the deck and then deal a fourth community card (the Turn) face-up to the right of the Flop.
The next betting round will begin with the option to bet or check belonging to the first player to the left of the button who has not folded.
Upon completion of the betting round the dealer will again burn the top card of the deck and then deal a fifth community card (the River) face-up to the right of the Turn card.
The final betting round will begin with the option to check or bet belonging to the first player to the left of the button who has not folded.
If more than one player remains in the round of play after the final betting round has been completed, a showdown shall be used to determine the winner of the pot.
Each player remaining in the game will turn his cards over and the dealer will read the cards to determine the highest ranking five-card high poker hand using, in any combination their own two cards and the five community cards.
The winner of the pot will be the player with the highest-ranking five-card high poker hand.
In the event of a tie the excess chip is awarded to the player to the left of the dealer button that is in the pot.
Nothing seems to confuse new Texas hold 'em players more than the blinds. Let's sort it out.
I used to play stud and draw poker with neighbors. I don't still play, but like to read about poker strategy. 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. — Dale H., Kankakee, Ill.
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.
Think of the blinds as antes used to stimulate betting and initiate play. 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.
The dealer for each hand is designated by a round disk called a button. Except for the first betting round, the player with the dealer button gets to act last throughout the 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.
The button moves clockwise one position for each new hand. 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 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. That means you are in the big blind position and must put $4 in front of you before the cards are dealt. The player to your right in seat four must post the $2 small blind.
Two down cards are then dealt to each player, starting with the small blind. 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.
Poker Blind Rotation Games
From the big blind, you are last to act before the flop. 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. Don't fold. Even a lousy 7-2 offsuit can turn into quads on a perfect flop!
If someone raises before the action gets back to you pre-flop, you have three options: fold and forfeit your $4; call the additional $4, or re-raise by betting $8 more for a total of $12.
After the flop, the betting rotation changes. The player in the small blind on your right acts first for the rest of the hand, then you. If he has folded, you're first to act each round until the hand ends.
Poker Blind Rotation Games
On the next hand, the button moves to seat four. Now you're in the small blind position and must post $2 before the deal. To stay in the hand, you must match the bet amount when it's your turn ($2 more if no one raises). Or you can fold, losing your $2 small blind.
On the next hand, you get the dealer button and can see your starting hands for free until it's time to post the blinds again.
We'll tackle playing strategies from the blind positions in a future column, Dale and John, but for now here are some other things to know:
— Some card rooms play hold 'em with a 'dead' button. That means the big blind is posted by the seated player due for it, and the small blind and button are positioned accordingly, whether or not players actually are seated there to receive a hand. This gives last-action advantage to a player on consecutive hands.
— If you miss paying one or both blinds, you must post the appropriate amount when you return or sit out until the big blind position advances to you. If you post mid-circuit, you still must pay the blinds when they reach you a few hands later in that round.
— When joining a game in progress, some card rooms require that you post the big blind amount if you want to be dealt in right away. You can choose to sit out until the big blind position reaches you normally, which is a good option because you can watch a few hands risk-free and get a feel for the table's action.
— In heads-up play using two blinds, the small blind is on the button. That player acts first before the flop and last on each subsequent betting round.
Poker Blind Rotation Definition
E-mail your poker questions and comments to [email protected] for use in future columns. To find out more about Russ Scott and read previous LuckyDog Poker columns, visit www.creators.com or www.luckydogpoker.com.