[johnf]

I have been playing cards for years but only recently got into Texas Holdem. The game is pretty straightforward but I always wondered what the point of the blinds was? I mean as long as the dealer button moves there will always be late / early positions. Why don't they just do the standard "ante" like other games?

Was there something special about doing the blinds?

Just wondering....

[chris]

Well obviously the "point" is to force betting action. Texas Hold'Em (in fact all the open card games) was developed to favor the professional poker player...the blind structure does so more effectively than an ante.

[arcfinn]

I would add that the "blinds" kinda mean what they imply. This is not very evident in penny play (1-2c blinds) because nobody really cares about them in those situations.

But say... the blind is $10... $100.

One person has to put down the big blind... everyone else follows if they think they can win.
But if the action gets all the way back to the guy who posted the big blind and noone has raised it...he can just CHECK it. I love it when they check me on the big-blind. In this situation when the flop hits... everyone else is "blind" to what he might have. He could be playing ANYTHING. So if low cards flop... the big blind player would have an excellent trap to set others in.

[jhasper]

A. You need something in the pot to start with or you will have very little action.

B. First step was the "ante", where everybody puts up the same amount before the cards are dealt. Now there was something in the pot to try to win. Stud is played this way, and I believe Holdem started this way too.

C. Now "blinds", which are actually blind bets.

In a limit game, the big blind is actually the opening bet (with an option to raise). That is why you can come into the pot for a raise. Who are you raising? The Big Blind. (also why you cannot check, there is technically a bet in front of you that you must at least call).

Blinds also create more play. Say instead of two blinds of $2 and $4, there were antes totalling $6 in a $4/$8 limit game. If I open for $4, someone has to call $4 for there to be a flop. With blinds, the BB is already in, and there will be a flop.

[johnf]

That was fast guys.Very detailed answers to my questions.thanks!