Small Blind

Definition

The small blind is a forced bet posted before every hand by the player sitting directly to the left of the dealer button. It's typically half the size of the big blind — in a $1/$2 game, the small blind posts $1. Like the big blind, it's mandatory: you don't get to choose whether to post it.

Example

You're in a $1/$2 game and you're one seat left of the dealer button. Before any cards are dealt, you put $1 in the pot automatically. The player to your left posts $2 (the big blind). Now everyone else around the table must decide whether to call the $2 bet, raise, or fold. At the end of pre-flop betting, if you want to stay in the hand you'll need to put in at least $1 more to match the big blind — your $1 only counts as a partial bet.

Why It Matters

The small blind is the worst position at the poker table, and that's not an exaggeration. You act second-to-last before the flop, which seems okay — but after the flop, you're always first to act for the rest of the hand. Acting first means you have to make decisions without knowing what anyone else will do, which is a huge disadvantage. On top of that, you've already been forced to put money in the pot, so you might feel tempted to call with weak hands just to "get your money's worth." Resist that urge. Understanding why the small blind is a losing position by default will help you play tighter (more selectively) from this seat and lose less money over time.