Blinds and the button are the fundamental mechanisms that drive every poker hand and determine who has the strategic advantage.
The Button (Dealer)
The button is a physical disc (or virtual online) that indicates who is the theoretical dealer. It moves one seat clockwise after each hand.
The button position is the most advantageous at the table: you act last on every postflop street, giving you maximum information before making your decision.
The Small Blind (SB)
The player immediately to the left of the button posts the small blind — usually half the big blind.
The SB acts first postflop: a permanent positional disadvantage
Preflop, the SB acts second-to-last (before the BB)
It's the worst position at the table in the long run
The Big Blind (BB)
The player two seats to the left of the button posts the big blind — the minimum bet for the hand.
If no one raises, the BB can check for free or raise. This is the only position with a 'free look' at the flop.
The Long-Term Cost of Blinds
Per orbit (full rotation of the table), you pay 1.5 BB mandatory (0.5 in SB + 1 in BB). This means that doing nothing — folding every hand — still costs you money. The blinds are the reason you must play hands: you need to win pots to offset this constant leak.
Antes: Additional Forced Bets
In tournaments, antes (bets from all players) are often added on top of the blinds. This increases the pot and encourages more action. The most common format is the 'big blind ante' where the BB posts the ante for the entire table.
