In flop poker games, such as Texas Hold’em or Omaha, a blind bet is a mandatory wager that needs to be made by the two players sitting to the left of the dealer button. Blind bets have two main functions. The first is to discourage overly passive poker players, who would otherwise not make a bet until getting a good hand. The second is to help make up the initial pot.
How is a blind bet different from an ante?
Both blind bets and antes are forced bets designed to discourage passive play and make up the initial pot, but here’s how they differ:
- Antes need to be paid by all players at the start of the round.
- Blinds are only paid by the two players sitting to the left of the dealer button.
Blind bet:
- A mandatory wager made by the two players sitting to the left of the dealer button.
- Discourages overly passive play.
- Helps make up the initial pot.