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Some poker games are played with antes.
An ante is a small bet that everyone
must put in to play, prior to any cards
being dealt. Antes can start as low as
a quarter, and go up as high as five
dollars, depending on the stakes. If
you're playing high-stakes poker where
the minimum bet is $200, then the ante
might be $50 or so. This is typically
decided before play starts, but can be
raised throughout the game.
Blinds work a little bit differently. A
blind is a bet placed before any cards
are dealt, but isn't placed by
everyone. Mostly used in Texas Hold 'Em,
there are two blinds - the small blind
and the big blind. The small blind is
equal to half the minimum bet, and is
posted by the player directly to the
left of the dealer or the button. (The
button is passed clockwise in a game
where there is a house dealer, and marks
the spot of the person who would be
dealing.) The player to the left of the
small blind posts the big blind. If the
minimum bet is $200, then the small
blind would be $100, and the big would
be $200.
Once the blinds are posted, the cards
are dealt. Betting starts with the
player directly to the left of the big
blind poster, who has to decide if he
wants to call the blind, raise to it, or
fold. The same goes for the rest of the
players, including the small blind.
Then the big blind gets the final call
before the next cards are dealt, and can
bet (or call if the big blind was
raised), raise, or check (or fold if the
big blind was raised). |
