How the Button and Blinds Work in Texas Holdem

The button and the blinds can have a huge effect on betting. In Texas Holdem they have a way of ensuring that there is always "action" (chips in the pot), and that's where the button comes in. A flat disk is used (though it doesn't have to be: we've used everything from lighters to film canisters at some of my home games!) to designate the "dealer" in each hand (though this person doesn't necessarily have to deal).

The player to the "dealer's" left is dealt the first card, and also posts the "Small Blind," which is half the Low Limit bet, and the person to that player's left posts the Big Blind, which is equal to the full amount of the low limit bet. So, in a $10/$20 game, the Small Blind is $5, and the Big Blind is $10.

Both of these posts are considered bets, so the player who posted the small blind only has to put in $5 to call the big blind, and the big blind has the option of checking without having to add anmore money to the pot (unless another player has raised). The player to the left of the Big Blind is the first to act in the first round of betting, but after that it is the player to the left of the dealer that acts first in each betting round.

After the hand the Button moves clockwise to the next player.

In heads up play (when there's only two players left in the game) the players that's on the button also posts the Small Blind and is the first to act.

Click the links below to learn more about:

How Poker Betting works

How to Bluff in Poker

Learn Poker Odds

Poker Playing Styles

Or if you want something a little easier, try the How to Play Poker section.