Poker blinds explained
Two forced bets keep a pot alive every hand — glanceable seats so “1/2” is not a mystery on the board.
Reviewed Oct 12, 2026
Answer first
90s- 01Blinds are forced bets posted before cards are dealt — usually small blind and big blind.
- 02A sign like 1/2 means $1 small blind and $2 big blind (dollars, not chips of mystery value).
- 03The button (dealer marker) moves one seat clockwise each hand; blinds sit left of the button.
- 04Preflop action starts left of the big blind; after the flop it starts left of the button.
- 05Your buy-in is often quoted in big blinds (for example 50–100 BB) — confirm the room board.
- 06Blinds are not a tip and not rake; they go into the pot and can be won back.
Progress
Button → blinds → first to act
- 1
Button
Dealer marker — acts last postflop
- 2
Small blind
Left of button — posts the smaller forced bet
- 3
Big blind
Left of SB — posts the larger forced bet
- 4
UTG
Under the gun — first to act preflop
Seats rotate with the button. You will post blinds when those seats reach you — that is normal, not a penalty.
How stake signs read
| Board says | Small blind | Big blind |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | $1 | $2 |
| 1/3 | $1 | $3 |
| 2/5 | $2 | $5 |
| 5/10 | $5 | $10 |
Cash games keep these blinds fixed for the table. Tournaments raise blinds on a clock — different product, different board.
On the felt
What “posting” looks like
Before deal
Blinds already in the pot — then two hole cards each
Example hand
You still act after blinds post — fold, call, or raise
Posting is automatic when you are in that seat. You do not wait for permission; chips go out, then cards come.
Your turn
Words you will hear
Small blind (SB)
The smaller forced bet, usually half the big blind (rooms can post odd structures — read the board).
Big blind (BB)
The larger forced bet. Stake names are often spoken as the big blind (“a two-five game”).
Button
Plastic dealer marker. Moves one seat clockwise each hand. Postflop, the button acts last.
Under the gun (UTG)
First seat to act preflop — left of the big blind. Hardest seat for beginners; tighten up.
Straddle
Optional extra blind some games allow (often UTG doubles the big blind). Ask before you assume it is live.
Sequence
First orbit without panic
Step 01
Read the stake board
Confirm 1/2 (or whatever is posted) and the buy-in range before you sit.
Step 02
Find the button
Watch one hand: button moves, blinds post, UTG acts. Name the seats out loud in your head.
Step 03
Post when it is your turn
When the blinds reach you, put the correct chips out. Dealers help if you are short a chip color.
Step 04
Act in turn
Preflop starts left of the BB. After the flop, left of the button. Do not act early.
Watch outs
Common misunderstandings
01“Blinds are a fee to the house”
Blinds go into the pot. Rake is the room’s separate take. Do not mix the two words.
02Skipping the blind on purpose
If you owe a blind and refuse, you usually cannot deal in that hand. Post or sit out per room rules.
03Thinking 1/2 means chip colors
1/2 is dollars for the forced bets. Chip colors are a different system — see the room’s chip values.
04Acting from the wrong seat
Out-of-turn action can be binding or confusing. Wait for the dealer to look at you.
Go play
Where to play in Las Vegas
Tap a resort — each row opens that casino’s CasinoList page (hours, poker status, floor facts). Print poker rooms, sorted by published table count.
Open a casino page
Real listings · not adsRanked lists
Open a shortlist that matches this guide
Same intent, inventory first — tap through for the places we already publish for Las Vegas.
After the 90 seconds
Questions before and after you play
A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.
01What blinds are
What are poker blinds?
Blinds are forced bets posted before the deal so every hand starts with money in the pot. In a typical Hold’em cash game, the two seats left of the button post the small blind and big blind. Those chips can be won back — they are not a tip and not the room’s rake.
What does 1/2 mean in poker?
It means a $1 small blind and a $2 big blind. Other common Vegas boards include 1/3 and 2/5. Always confirm the live sign at the desk — stakes change by time of day and room.
02At the table
Who acts first — blinds or under the gun?
Preflop, action starts with the seat left of the big blind (under the gun). The blinds act later in that round. After the flop, turn, and river, action starts left of the button, so the button acts last.
Do I have to post blinds when I first sit down?
Rooms set wait-for-big-blind or post-to-enter rules. Ask the desk or dealer when you join so you know whether you wait for the big blind or post immediately. Do not invent a third option mid-hand.
03Where to play
Where can I find poker rooms after reading this?
Use the Las Vegas poker-room venues below from our catalog. Open a room page, then confirm today’s blinds and buy-in board at the desk before you buy chips.
Sources
- Bellagio poker (operator page) · accessed Oct 12, 2026Land-based Las Vegas poker room context; live stakes posted at the desk.
- Wynn poker (operator page) · accessed Oct 12, 2026