Table Setup

In Hold’em a game is restricted to a deck of 52 cards and there can be anywhere from 2 to 10 players participating. A full table has 9-10 players. When the game starts each player is dealt two face down cards. These cards are known as pocket cards or hole cards. A player can only see his own pocket cards. Once the cards are dealt the first betting round begins. The round moves clock wise from the dealer as indicated by the dealer button. A bet is placed by moving the designated chips or cash from one’s stack towards the center of the table. The collective amount that the players bet during a hand is referred to as the pot. To win the pot you must win the hand. And now comes the twist:

Two structured bets are placed by designated players located to the immediate left of the dealer. These bets are called the small blind (abbreviated SB) and the big blind (abbreviated BB). The BB is equal to the minimum bet and the SB is normally half that amount. The SB is paid by the player to the immediate left of the dealer, as indicated by the dealer button, while the BB is paid by the player to the immediate left of the SB. The name of the bets are also used to address the players who pay them. The dealer button and the blinds are moved one position clockwise around the table once a hand is over. This means that in the next hand the BB becomes the SB while the former SB assumes the role of an ordinary player. This rotation continues throughout the game. Before we move on to the betting rounds we want to make clear that the blinds are only paid once in the first betting round of every hand. The SB and BB act like ordinary players during all subsequent betting rounds.  

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