How Does Texas Holdem Blinds Work
Posted By admin On 14/04/22- In most forms of poker, such as the most popular one of No-Limit Texas Hold’em, there are forced blind bets that must be put forward by the players to the immediate left of the button before any cards are dealt. These blind bets are called the small blind and the big blind.
- There are mainly two blinds in Texas Holdem – the big and small blind, but there can sometimes be three players who have to make them. The name comes from the fact that players are being asked to bet without seeing their hands. They are betting blind, with no knowledge of the hand’s worth.
- How Does Texas Holdem Work? What prevents players from simply folding all but very strong hands are what is called the blinds. The blinds are forced antes which keep the game currency in circulation by requiring players pay to play.
When you are in the casino at the beginning of a poker game, and you have lots of chips, the blinds are something you hardly notice. Towards the end of a poker night, especially if things aren’t going so well and your chip pile is lower than you’d like it to be, or the blind bets are increasing in size, then the blind can really eat into your stack.
Some poker games have antes – forced bets. But Texas Holdem doesn’t, meaning you can fold your cards without betting. Texas Holdem poker does have something called blinds though. They are another type of forced bet, but this time before you have been dealt your cards. Like antes, they exist so that there is a cost to playing, so the poker games don’t go on and on with players just waiting to be dealt a great hand. Paul Phua thinks that the blind keeps the momentum up, and ensures the game of poker finishes within a reasonable time frame – especially since the blinds often increase in value during a game of Texas Holdem to speed things up even further.
There are mainly two blinds in Texas Holdem – the big and small blind, but there can sometimes be three players who have to make them.
The Texas Hold'em blinds are usually more popular in structured limit games. In this structure, such as the $2/$4 or $3/$6 limit hold'em, the blinds are comprised of two bets made - the small and the big blind. The Texas Hold'em blinds start to the left of the dealer. So the flow would go as follows: dealer button, small blind, and then big blind.
The name comes from the fact that players are being asked to bet without seeing their hands. They are betting blind, with no knowledge of the hand’s worth. So in the casino, whether you hold a 2 and a 3 unsuited, or a pair of aces – before you see your hand it’s all the same.
Paul Phua says the blind also marks potential poker strategy. Depending on your position around the poker table in a casino, or a social poker night where the dealer changes as the “button” moves from player to player, you will have to give certain blinds. Being in the small blind spot on a poker table is a disadvantage because you will be the first to act in every round after the flop. But Paul Phua’s poker tip is to remember never feel committed to a pot simply because you have paid your blind, especially in Texas Holdem, and not be afraid to enter a pot if you have a strong enough hand.
- Hold Em Poker Tournament
The Texas Hold Em Poker Tournament Blinds will determine the length of time a particular poker tournament takes to complete. In addition, the poker tournament blind structure provides an important strategic consideration for the style of play best suited to the particular poker tournament.
We aim to cover both suggested blind structures for your Texas Hold Em Home Poker Tournament as well as strategic considerations that depend on these varying blind structures.
This way, you can set up your poker tournament to last the desired length of time you prefer and be armed with the best poker tournament strategy to win it!
It is important to ensure that before starting any poker tournament that the poker tournament blinds to be used are posted for all of the players to see.
Texas Holdem Blinds Timer
This will include the various levels with increases shown clearly as well as the amount of time between levels.
Another consideration before selecting your Texas Hold Em Tournament Blinds is the length of time that you would like the poker tournament to run for. Do you plan on playing a six hour tournament that lasts all night? Or are you hosting a quick three hour tournament?
The best way to set up a tournament to fit the time available is by choosing the correct Texas Hold Em Tournament Blinds that will move play along as the desired pace.
Here is our suggestion for Texas Hold Em Poker Blinds structures for a 10 player tournament based on desired length of play.
We recommend starting with $2,000 worth of chips for the below Texas Hold Em Tournament Blinds chart:
Level | Small Blind | Big Blind |
1 | 10 | 20 |
2 | 15 | 30 |
3 | 20 | 40 |
4 | 35 | 70 |
5 | 50 | 100 |
6 | 75 | 150 |
7 | 100 | 200 |
8 | 150 | 300 |
9 | 200 | 400 |
10 | 300 | 600 |
11 | 400 | 800 |
12 | 500 | 1000 |
13 | 750 | 1500 |
14 | 1000 | 2000 |
15 | 1500 | 3000 |
Time: 15 minute levels = 3 hours 30 minute levels = 6 hours | ||
This Texas Hold Em Poker Tournament Blinds structure is easy to print and should be shown before the tournament begins. It is also easy to adjust as you wish by simply changing the length of time for each blind level.
If you find it takes too long, or is too short, simply adjust the time between levels next time around until you have the perfect tournament for you and your friends!
The suggested poker tournament blind structure can be adjusted by changing the time of the levels depending on the number of players. For example, if you have 20 players instead of 10, then half the time for each blind level for the same desired tournament length.
If you have half the number of players – 5 players – then you can double the suggested time between blind levels to keep within the time limit. The chart is really easy to use and easy to adjust.
You may also find it useful to check out our page on Texas Hold Em Tournament Payout amounts as we provide charts that will make hosting your Texas Hold Em Home Poker Tournament hassle free.
Our site provides a lot of useful resources to help you plan your Texas Hold Em Home Poker Tournament so make sure that you take the time to look around.
The Texas Hold Em Tournament Blinds also affect your strategy when playing and this is important if you plan to win the tournament. If you are playing the shorter version of the tournament, the blinds will begin to increase more rapidly.
Therefore you have less time to wait for big hands and will eventually be forced to play aggressively and take some chances in order to stay ahead of the blinds. You need to ensure that you do this before your stack becomes too short compared to the size of the blinds.
Alternatively, if your tournament uses the longer time between blinds, then you have more time to wait for a big hand and less pressure on you to take risks. If this is the case, you will want to play more conservatively as time is on your side.
It is very important to understand how the Texas Hold Em Poker Tournament Blinds affect the tournament structure and how you need to change your style of play depending on how quickly the blinds increase. This is the key to winning Texas Hold Em Poker Tournaments.