Learn Texas Holdem

Question: Question on Blinds:

Say you are playing a 10/20 game. The person in the small pays how much? 5? Is it half of the smaller number?

The big blind pays 10? Equal to whatever the small number/firsst number is?

Cards are then dealt.

First person "under the gun" has to call for at least 10? or is it 20?

What does the 2nd number stand for?

Thanks

Matt

Answer: For a 10/20 game the numbers 10 and 20 coincide with the betting round amounts. In limit holdem, the preflop betting and flop betting is half that of the turn card and river card betting. So in $10/20 games, you would bet in increments of $10 preflop and on the flop. Then on the turn card and river card you would bet in $20 increments.

In our $10/20 game, the big blind would be $10. The big blind is always the amount of the flop bet (since it is considered a full bet). The small blind is usually half of the big blind. In our $10/20 game the small blind is always $5. Things change a little when you have games like $15/30 and $30/60. Notice how the numbers can't be divided by two easily. In these structures the big blind is still $15 for a $15/30 but the small blind is $10. The same goes for the $30/60. The big blind is $30 and the small blind is $20. It's a small variation but worth mentioning. The two structures are either half of the big blind for the small blind or 2/3 for the big blind amount for the small blind.

When the person under the gun has to make a move they can call, raise or fold. If they just call then they have to call what the big blind bet. In our $10/20 game that is always $10. A raise would mean they would have to raise to $20 ($10 increments).

Lastly, blinds are called "blinds" because you have to put the money out there without looking at your cards first. Think of it as a forced bet so there will be money to battle over each round.