Here we will talk all about Blinds and Antes and what they mean in a game of Texas Hold’em. These are important points that begin even before any card is being dealt in a game of Texas Hold’em.

So before the commencement of the game so there is a little excitement kicking in we have to see some money in the pot. It is no use for each player waiting to draw an ace before even placing any bet. So the way to begin with money in the pot is through the Antes and Blinds as they are called.

What are Antes?

Antes are an amount which are set and put into the pot by every single player in the game before any cards are being dealt by the dealer of that round. This money though is not inclusive of your first bet like it happens with Blinds.

This type of pre-placed betting is more popularly used in home games rather than large tournaments and makes it very easy and manageable for the host of a game in one’s living room so this is best used for home poker tables. Antes are often used in later games with Blinds too at latter stages of a tournament than just as standalone betting practices.

What are Blinds?

Blind bets are made by the two players who are sitting to the left of the dealer’s button and can be also counted towards their first bet as other players haven’t yet contributed to the poker kitty so it is only fair that this is so.

The player first to the left of the dealer button gets to put the small blind as it is known and the second player to the left of the button gets to out in what is called the big blind. This all happens before the dealer even starts to deal out any cards for that round.

Both of these pre-betting actions will be counted towards your first round of betting so the small blind will have to increase by another half the first bet and the big blind will not need to place a first bet he or she will have the ability to raise their bet if they so wish and they think that they have been dealt a good hand by the dealer.

A very important point to remember and digest is that if you are organizing a game of poker at home then it is best from the beginning to notify all players of all the limits and the minimum amounts to go into the pot so every one is well advised of what their obligations are and what they are up against.

You will have to let every one know when blinds will be placed or antes and now there are electronic devices that are sold in poker shops that make the job of letting every one know what to do and when which is a great help. If you haven’t got one of these devices then a cell phone or even an egg timer can do the trick. By getting to understand these two simple concepts you can organise your game nicely.