The reason Texas Hold’em Poker is so unique to that of other variants is the blinds. The blinds are an important part of the betting structure and steer away from the rules of traditional poker. In traditional draw poker a player can choose to fold every weak hand they are dealt. They can also only play the strong ones resulting in only needing to pay the antes. The blind bet rule forces players to come into the game more often. If player’s only play the blinds, their chip stack will eventually wear away leaving them shaking their heads.

Each game of Hold’em starts the same with the antes and the blinds being declared. It is an automatic in Hold’em and so it should be. As the game progresses the blinds will increase each turn. This ultimately forces players to take part in the hands given. This is why Texas Hold’em is so incredibly popular and entertaining.

The game starts of with the small blind posted by the player to the left of the dealer button, therefore clockwise. The small blind will always be half the value of the big blind. The big blind is regarded as the minimum bet in Limit Poker.
The blinds are naturally in a position of weakness because its money on the table before actually seeing any cards. Thus the term “Betting Blind” is born!

Just remember that players, who have committed money to the pot with the blinds, will do their best to retrieve it. These players automatically have a disadvantage by having to act first. Each round comes with defending the blind and having weak cards is sometimes a bitter reality.
 
The Blinds: Just the price you have to Pay

You can bet on the fact that the dealer will raise the pot purposely putting pressure on the blinds to fold their hand. You can also bet that you would do the exact same thing in the position for a chance to win the pot. Accepting these facts right off the bat will reduce tension and make things run a little smoother.

So, learn to see the blinds as simply a cost of doing business in poker. They must be paid when it is your turn, but you will have seen several hands before it is your turn to pay up. Getting obsessed your blind bet especially when you have a weak hand won’t do you any good.  Just let it roll and your time will come back around to recover some losses – if any.