The Big Blind - Automatic Bet

In poker, the big blind is the larger of the two automatic bets that need to be made (the other being the small blind). Together with the ante, which in tournament play usually kicks in around level 5, these blinds ensure each pot is incentivised - that's to say, there's something to fight for every hand. Their benefit is two fold. Firstly, it encourages action and secondly, it discourages players from just folding all day waiting for monster hands (although less so in cash games as the blinds are static and smaller).

The big blind is usually double the value of the small blind. The player to the immediate left of the dealer (indicated by the dealer button) will post the small blind and the next player left the big. When setting the blinds, do take into account what type of game your after. Fast and aggressive (quick blind increases) or slow and tactical (slower blind increases).

It is important to recognise that the blinds and antes impact players differently, depending on whether it's a cash game or tournament that's being played.

Tournament blinds and antes

Tournaments are a little more exciting when it comes to blinds and antes. In tournament play, as the tournament progresses, the blinds periodically increase. The interval between the blinds raising and the value that they raise by can vary, as can the amount by which they increase. The optimum cash game strategy will not be very effective in a poker tournament. Early on, the blinds and small, meaning there's less in each pot. As time progresses, the pots grow in size - with that comes the increase in attempts to steal blinds. As a result, more excitement - hence the attraction with tournaments. It also becomes necessary to play more hands, as each hand the blinds eat away at your stack (and more so with each new level).

The following table gives an indication of a standard blinds format for tournament play (the big blind is the higher of the two values - on the right):


Level 1	10 Min's	$10 / $20
Level 2	20 Min's	$20 / $40
Level 3	30 Min's	$25 / $50
Level 4	40 Min's	$30 / $60
Level 5	50 Min's	$40 / $80
Level 6	60 Min's	$50 / $100
Level 7	70 Min's	$60 / $120
Level 8	80 Min's	$$75 / $150
Level 9	90 Min's	$100 / $200
Level 10	100 Min's	$125 / $250
Level 11	110 Min's	$150 / $300
Level 12	120 Min's	$200 / $400
Level 13	130 Min's	$250 / $500
Level 14	140 Min's	$300 / $600
Level 15	150 Min's	$350 / $700
Level 16	160 Min's	$400 / $800
Level 17	170 Min's	$500 / $1000
Level 18	180 Min's	$600 / $1200
Level 29	190 Min's	$700 / $1400
Level 20	200 Min's	$800 / $1600
Level 21	210 Min's	$900 / $1800
Level 22	220 Min's	$1000 / $2000
Level 23	230 Min's	$1200 / $2400
Level 24	240 Min's	$1400 / $2800
Level 25	250 Min's	$1600 / $3200
Level 26	250 Min's	$1800 / $3600
Level 27	250 Min's	$2000 / $4000
Level 28	250 Min's	$2400 / $4800
Level 29	250 Min's	$2800 / $5600
Level 30	250 Min's	$3200 / $6400

For example, looking at level 30 - $3200 / $6400 blinds indicates that the small blind has to put in $3200 and the big blind $6400. Remember that these are automatic bets and must be made regardless of whether you decide to stay in the hand. In this instance $9600 + antes would be in the pot to start it off. This encourages players to try to play lesser hands or bluff to 'pick up the blinds'.

The Blinds in Ring Games (cash games)

The blinds in cash games is slightly different and there will be a set level of blinds assigned to the table and these don't change. The key difference in cash games is that you don't have to evolve your strategy as a result of the blinds. When playing online poker, the blinds assigned to a table usually come with a minimum amount that must be brought to the table. The higher the blinds, the larger the sum that you'll need..