Blind

Blinds are mandatory bets posted by the two players to the left of the dealer button: the small blind (typically half the minimum bet) and the big blind (the full minimum bet). They create a starting pot and ensure there's something to compete for in every hand.

Blind structure determines the pace and strategy of a game. In cash games, blinds stay fixed. In tournaments, blinds increase at regular intervals, creating increasing pressure to accumulate chips.

Playing from the blinds is the most difficult position in poker because you act first on every post-flop street. Defending your blinds appropriately — neither too wide nor too tight — is a key skill.