Where does the small blind sit relative to the dealer button?

Directly to the left of the button — The small blind sits immediately to the left of the button in a full-ring game.

How big is the big blind compared to the small blind, typically?

Twice the small blind — The small blind is usually half the big blind, so the big blind is roughly double.

Why are they called 'blinds'?

You post them before seeing your cards — You post them blind, meaning before you have looked at your hole cards.

What is the main purpose of forced bets?

To create a pot and force action every hand — Blinds seed the pot so players have something to compete for each hand.

What does the dealer button indicate?

Which player is acting as dealer for that hand — The button marks the nominal dealer and sets position for the hand.

After a hand ends, which way does the button move?

One seat clockwise (to the left) — The button advances one seat clockwise after every hand.

When the button moves, what happens to the blinds?

They move one seat clockwise with it — The small and big blinds rotate along with the button each hand.

Why does rotating the blinds matter for fairness?

Every player pays both blinds in turn, sharing the cost — Because the button passes everyone, the forced-bet cost is shared equally over time.

Which position acts last after the flop in Hold'em?

The player on the button — The button acts last on the flop, turn, and river, the best position.

In a full-ring game, who acts first before the flop?

The player to the left of the big blind — Pre-flop action starts with the player left of the big blind, known as under the gun.

In heads-up play (two players), who posts the small blind?

The player on the button — Heads-up, the button posts the small blind, the opposite of a full table.

In heads-up play, who acts first before the flop?

The button (small blind) — Heads-up, the button acts first pre-flop and last on all later streets.

A small forced bet paid by players to build the pot — An ante is a small mandatory contribution that inflates the pot.

Who traditionally pays an ante?

All players at the table — Classically every player posts an ante, unlike blinds which only two players post.

When are antes most commonly used?

In later stages of tournaments — Antes are typically introduced as tournaments progress to force more action.

What is a 'big-blind ante' in modern tournaments?

The big blind alone posts one ante for the whole table — A big-blind ante replaces individual antes with a single posting by the big blind, speeding play.

What effect does adding antes have on the game?

It grows the pot and encourages more action — A bigger starting pot gives players more incentive to contest hands.

If the big blind is 100 chips, what is a typical small blind?

50 chips — The small blind is usually half the big blind, so 50 here.

Relative to the button, where do the blinds always sit?

Immediately to its left — The small and big blinds are the first two seats clockwise (left) of the button.

Block 01 · How to Play Poker: Rules for Beginners

The blinds, the button & the ante explained

Lesson 5 of 12 ~2 min read 20-question test

Every hand of Texas Hold'em begins with forced bets that create the pot worth fighting for. Here is exactly how the small blind and big blind work, what the dealer button and the ante do, and why they rotate every hand — the first of the Texas Hold'em betting rules for beginners. If seat order confuses you, the poker positions explained trainer maps every seat for you.

Two forced bets start every hand

In Texas Hold'em, two players must post money before any cards are dealt. The small blind sits directly left of the dealer, and the big blind sits one seat further left. The big blind is a full bet; the small blind is usually half that. These are called blinds because you post them blind, before you have seen your cards.

Why forced bets exist

Without blinds there would be nothing to win, so everyone could fold free hands forever and the game would stall. The blinds seed the pot every single hand, giving players a reason to compete and forcing the action to move forward. That built-in pressure is the engine of poker.

Position is power

Where you sit changes everything

The later you act, the more you already know when it's your turn. Acting last is such an edge that the same hand is a raise on the button and a fold under the gun. Colour = how good the seat is. Tap one to see how it plays.

Action moves clockwise, one seat →

BTN · The Button

The Button

The best seat in poker — you act last on every street after the flop. Steal relentlessly and play the widest range.

Early — hardest
Middle
Late — strong
Button — best
Blinds — forced bets

Shown 6-handed. Full-ring tables (9–10 players) add earlier seats — UTG+1/2, the lojack and hijack — but the rule never changes: the later you act, the wider you can play.

The dealer button

A small disc marked with a D, the button, marks who is acting as dealer for that hand. It matters because position is set by the button: the player on the button acts last after the flop, the strongest seat at the table. The blinds are always defined relative to the button, seated immediately to its left.

Everything rotates one seat clockwise

After each hand the button moves one seat to the left (clockwise), and the small and big blinds move with it. This means every player pays both blinds in turn as the button passes, so the cost of the forced bets is shared equally over time and nobody is stuck paying more than anyone else.

The ante

An ante is a small forced bet paid by everyone (not just the two blinds), used mostly in later tournament and cash game formats to inflate the pot and pump up action. In modern tournaments this is often a big-blind ante: instead of each player posting a tiny chip, the big blind alone posts one extra ante for the whole table, which speeds up the game.

Practice Play a Hold'em hand Open →

Before the test — remember

The small blind and big blind are forced bets posted before cards are dealt; the big blind is a full bet and the small blind is usually half.
The dealer button sets position and acts last after the flop; the blinds sit immediately to its left.
After every hand the button and both blinds move one seat clockwise, so the cost is shared equally over time.
The ante is a small bet from everyone (or a single big-blind ante in tournaments) that boosts the pot and drives action.

Lesson test · 20 questions

Test yourself

Answer them all — 16/20 to pass. Every answer gets an explanation.

Question 1 / 20 Score 0

What are the blinds in Texas Hold'em?

Review — all 20 questions & answers tap to expand

What are the blinds in Texas Hold'em?

Answer Forced bets posted before any cards are dealt

The blinds are mandatory bets posted before the deal to seed the pot.
Where does the small blind sit relative to the dealer button?

Answer Directly to the left of the button

The small blind sits immediately to the left of the button in a full-ring game.
How big is the big blind compared to the small blind, typically?

Answer Twice the small blind

The small blind is usually half the big blind, so the big blind is roughly double.
Why are they called 'blinds'?

Answer You post them before seeing your cards

You post them blind, meaning before you have looked at your hole cards.
What is the main purpose of forced bets?

Answer To create a pot and force action every hand

Blinds seed the pot so players have something to compete for each hand.
What does the dealer button indicate?

Answer Which player is acting as dealer for that hand

The button marks the nominal dealer and sets position for the hand.
After a hand ends, which way does the button move?

Answer One seat clockwise (to the left)

The button advances one seat clockwise after every hand.
When the button moves, what happens to the blinds?

Answer They move one seat clockwise with it

The small and big blinds rotate along with the button each hand.
Why does rotating the blinds matter for fairness?

Answer Every player pays both blinds in turn, sharing the cost

Because the button passes everyone, the forced-bet cost is shared equally over time.
Which position acts last after the flop in Hold'em?

Answer The player on the button

The button acts last on the flop, turn, and river, the best position.
In a full-ring game, who acts first before the flop?

Answer The player to the left of the big blind

Pre-flop action starts with the player left of the big blind, known as under the gun.
In heads-up play (two players), who posts the small blind?

Answer The player on the button

Heads-up, the button posts the small blind, the opposite of a full table.
In heads-up play, who acts first before the flop?

Answer The button (small blind)

Heads-up, the button acts first pre-flop and last on all later streets.
What is an ante?

Answer A small forced bet paid by players to build the pot

An ante is a small mandatory contribution that inflates the pot.
Who traditionally pays an ante?

Answer All players at the table

Classically every player posts an ante, unlike blinds which only two players post.
When are antes most commonly used?

Answer In later stages of tournaments

Antes are typically introduced as tournaments progress to force more action.
What is a 'big-blind ante' in modern tournaments?

Answer The big blind alone posts one ante for the whole table

A big-blind ante replaces individual antes with a single posting by the big blind, speeding play.
What effect does adding antes have on the game?

Answer It grows the pot and encourages more action

A bigger starting pot gives players more incentive to contest hands.
If the big blind is 100 chips, what is a typical small blind?

Answer 50 chips

The small blind is usually half the big blind, so 50 here.
Relative to the button, where do the blinds always sit?

Answer Immediately to its left

The small and big blinds are the first two seats clockwise (left) of the button.