Blind
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Blinds are a form of forced bet in a game of poker. They are bets that must be paid before the cards are dealt. They are paid by two players, and which players pay them switches from round to round. The bets may be the same size or one may be bigger than the other; there may be a big blind and a small blind.
The position of the dealer determines who pays the blinds. It is the two players immediately to the left of the dealer who pay the blinds. They count as bets for these players, so that they don't have to match their own blinds again.
Antes are counterparts to blinds. They must be paid by every player at a table. Poker variants with blinds are Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and 2-7 Triple Draw, though the question of antes vs. blinds always depends on the house rules.
Related Topics:
Ante, Big Blind, Small Blind, Forced Bet, Dealer