Beginners in poker are often too intimidated to ask for solid definitions of the big blind and small blind or what exactly the button means. They might wonder why some games and tournaments use antes and others do not.
And what about the straddle? Medium-stakes and high-stakes cash game players throw the term straddle around like it’s everyday lingo, but it’s not. Let’s get into these terms and explain why they are so important in poker.
Texas Hold’em Poker Blinds: Understanding the Small and Big Blinds
In Texas Hold’em tournaments and cash games, no matter the format or structure, there will be a small blind and big blind at every table, as well as a dealer button. They are as integral to the game as chips and cards.
The dealer button does not point to the actual dealer; it is used as a placeholder to mark the positions of the small and big blinds. Since poker operates in a clockwise manner, if the button is at Seat 1, the small blind will then belong to Seat 2 and the big blind to Seat 3. With each hand, the positions rotate – clockwise – by one seat or player.
The amount of the blinds depends upon what version of poker is being played. In a tournament, there is a set structure, and the levels increase, dictating the increasing amounts of the blinds. In a cash game, the blinds remain the same based on the game being played. For example, a player who sits at a $1/$2 table will find that the small blind is $1, and the big blind is $2.
There is a purpose to the blinds. It simply keeps the game moving, as everyone at the table will be forced to pay a small and big blind every round. It keeps players from sitting back and waiting for premium hands at no cost, and it ensures that there is a pot of chips in play for every hand. There are even strategies for blinds, which are explained in our guide to understanding poker blinds.
Straddle Bet in Texas Hold’em: What It Is and When to Use It
In cash game poker, often in medium-stakes and high-stakes games, there may be talk of a straddle. Some players like the use of straddles, others say that they are overused, and the occasional player may insist that they are necessary. No matter how you feel, it’s important to understand the basics of the poker straddle bet.
A straddle is a bet that can be started by the player in the “under the gun” position, which is the seat just to the left of the big blind. That player may choose randomly to straddle, which is a blind raise made before any cards are dealt, and the amount is twice the big blind. So, in the aforementioned $1/$2 game, the UTG (under the gun) player would straddle $4 before receiving any hole cards.
There are variations, some poker rooms permit straddles from other positions and for other amounts. In addition, some even allow the player next to the straddle to double that amount.
The goal of the straddle is to spice up cash games, to increase the size of the pots, and to inspire more action. However, new players can find the straddle to be intimidating and the pots to be too big. Some poker rooms are putting limits on straddles to control a practice that has only gained popularity in the past decade.
Texas Hold’em Button Position: Advantages of Playing Last
As mentioned, the dealer button signifies the position of the blinds. It rotates around the table, one spot per hand in a clockwise pattern. The button indicates which player that acts just before the small and then the big blind before the flop. After the flop, turn, and river, the button player is the last to act.
But what is the button in poker in relation to strategy? This position is the most advantageous because the player can watch the actions of every opponent before making a decision to check, call, raise, or fold.
If the button player holds a medium pair, misses the flop, and watches two other players move all in, the button can easily fold. On the other hand, if all of the other players appear weak and simply check around after a rainbow flop, the button player can raise with anything to try to take down the pot.
Button strategies can vary based on the action at the table and the patterns of the other players. But overall, it is the most coveted position in most hands, as it provides the most options for controlling the action.
Ante in Texas Hold’em: How Antes Impact the Game
The ante in Texas Hold’em is another method of inducing action. Most often, it is used in tournaments, as any given tournament structure will show increasing levels that incorporate antes along with the blinds. In general, the ante is a quarter of the small blind or big blind, and it often depends on the time offered for each level and how many players are expected.
The latest trend in tournament structures is the big blind ante. This refers to the ante holding the same value as the big blind. It became popular for several reasons, as it sped up tournament play without removing time from the levels, it treated each player equally, and its quantity was easy for players to remember.
For example, the Borgata Spring Poker Open Championship Main Event this year, which was a $2,700 buy-in for 40,000 chips, offered this structure with big blind antes:
- Level 1: 100/100/100 (small blind/big blind/ante)
- Level 2: 100/200/200
- Level 3: 200/300/300
- Level 4: 200/400/400
- Level 5: 300/500/500
- Level 6: 300/600/600
- Level 7: 400/800/800
- Level 8: 500/1000/1000
At one time in poker history, antes were only found in Draw and Stud poker games, but the explosion of the flop games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha during the poker boom prompted poker rooms and tour operators to incorporate antes. Today, it is uncommon to find a major tournament online or live without an ante in play.
Play with BetMGM Poker For Legal Real Money Games
New poker players can practice using blinds, antes, the button, and even straddles in online poker games and tournaments. When you play poker online at BetMGM, the stakes can be much lower than in live poker rooms, offering the perfect opportunity to get acquainted with the games and start implementing strategies for button play, for example.
If it’s your first time playing on the site, check out the bonuses available, like the BetMGM Poker welcome offer.
