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Poker term

Big blind

The larger of the two forced bets posted before the cards are dealt, by the player two seats to the left of the dealer button. It sets the minimum bet size for the hand and is the unit stack sizes are measured in.

Frequently asked questions

What is the big blind in poker?

Three things: the larger of the two forced bets posted before the cards; the player immediately left of the small blind who posts it; and the unit everything in poker is measured in — stack sizes, bet sizes and win rates.

Why is the big blind a difficult position?

Because you act last before the flop but first on every street after it, and you have money in the pot with a random hand. It is the single biggest losing position in poker — good players aim to lose less from it, not to profit.

How wide should you defend the big blind?

Wider than instinct suggests, because the money already posted improves your price. Against a late-position raise, solid defending ranges run to a third of all hands or more — but defending wide only pays off if you can play well out of position afterwards.