I was watching a poker show on cable today and they mentioned that one of them had the "Big Blind." What exactly is a Big Blind and how is that different from any other kind? What other kinds of Blinds are there? I've heard "Big" and "Small" before, but are there other types?

-Matt

The blinds are forced action. Basically, it ensures the winner of the hand wins something.

Blinds in tourney escalate on a timed basis to ensure the completion of a tourney. Without escalating blinds, a tourney would last weeks, in theory.

Imagine this...the game is 4/8 Limit Hold 'Em, which means the bets are $4 before and after the Flop, and $8 after the Turn, and the River. Before the hand, to ensure action, the player to the right of the Dealer button posts a "Small Blind" which is usually half the bet before the Flop, $2. The "Big Blind" is to the right of the Small Blind, and is exactly as much as a bet, $4. These players, for all intents, have bet on the hand, even before they are given cards, hense "Blinds". When the action comes to them, the small blind can complete the bet($2 more to $4), raise(another $6, $2 to complete the bet, plus $4), or fold. The big blind can raise(another $4 on top of the $4 already in), or fold. The blinds act last before the flop...but FIRST after the flop....making them the worst position on the hand. Blinds however have the benefit of catching a good hand, and having it disguised because they don't HAVE to bet a good hand should they get it....they can smooth call a monster with their bet in, and trap later.

The blinds in various Limit Games...

2/4 Limit SB $1 BB $2
3/6 Limit SB $1 BB $3
4/8 Limit SB $2 BB $4
5/10 Limit SB $2 BB $5

There are no other blinds than these two.

Wow

Poker always confused the heck out of me. I tried playing when I went to Foxwoods once, but I was horrible. I stuck mostly with Blackjack, slots, Keno and roulette. Thanks for the information! Now I know a little more than I did before.

-Matt

No problemo. Any casino or game you play in...the other players will guide you. It takes a minute to learn, and a lifetime to master...to quote Mike Sexton.

I should also note that blinds only happen in "flop" games, like Hold Em, and Omaha. Draw games(poker you played as a kid) have antes, which everybody pays, and there are minimum hand requirements to start the betting, like Jacks or Higher. Stud games, like 7-Card and Razz, have antes, and the "bring in", which is usually a negligable amount, say a buck in low limit games. The bring in is automatically paid by the "low man" in 7-Card, and the "high man" in Razz to start the action.

Confused even more?

LOL it isn't hard to confuse me. I played hold 'em in Foxwoods, but it wasn't a big-money game, I think the largest bet in the whole game was something like ten dollars. I had a hard time reading my opponents though. I kept getting bluffed out by people with less than I had. I'm a bit too conservative with things like that. I also don't have much of a poker face. I got dealt two Aces one hand and had the biggest grin on my face. Everyone folded as soon as they could, which stunk.

-Matt