Blinds and ante

Before the cards have been dealt, the first player to the left of the deal has to pay a forced, or blind, bet. This bet, and the player who is making it, is called the Small Blind. The player to the left of the Small Blind also has to place a forced bet called the Big Blind. The amount of the blind bets, both big and small, is fixed at the beginning of the game. This is known as the betting structure. The big blind is generally twice the amount as the small blind. The amount of bets placed on the table is referred to as the pot.

In cash games, the amounts of the small and big blinds do not change. In tournament games, the amount of the blinds will gradually increase, allowing for the elimination of players.

Another type of forced bet is the ante. The ante is a forced bet in which all players pay an equal amount of money or chips into the pot before the deal begins. Antes are typically used in tournament games

Forced bets help to create an incentive for the players to compete for the pot. Without money in the pot when the hand begins, players would not have any reason to risk any cash or chips except when they have an unbeatable hand.