Being a 'blind' is tricky in Texas Hold'em

In Texas Hold'em poker, the first two players to act must put money in the pot before they're even dealt any cards. That's why they're called "blinds." Everybody else gets to see their two hole cards for free.

In a limit $5/$10 Hold'em game for example, the first player must "blind up" $2, and the second bets $5 - blind. These two players are called the "small" and "big" blinds. This is what creates the initial pot because in Hold'em, there is no ante. All the cards are then dealt, and the rest of the players must either call the $5 bet, raise it to $10, or fold.

Since no other players have to put any money into the pot if they don't want to, they can fold all their bad hands at no cost. But the blinds get stuck paying for lots of hands they never would've played, if they weren't already "partway" in. This is why even very good Hold'em players lose money when it's their turn to be a "blind."

Lots has been written about what starting hands to pay money with, but not much has been said about how to play when you're already in blind. So let's touch lightly on that subject right here.

Playing when you're the big ($5) blind is not all that tricky. If nobody raised it to $10 by the time the action gets back around to you, you're automatically in to see the flop - nice and easy. If somebody did raise, it'll cost you another $5 (unless you want to re-raise to $15), or you must fold. When it's raised, you need a good hand to pay that extra $5 and play. Otherwise, just donate your $5 blind to the pot and fold.

Being the small ($2) blind is much more delicate. When the betting comes back around to you, even if there was no raise, you're still going to owe $3 (because everybody else in the hand paid $5). Now, since you can get in at a "discount," you don't need that good a hand to pay $3 and take a look at the flop. Don't be a sucker though, and call habitually just because you can get in cheap. For instance, suppose you have:

Q/9

Three or four players merely called the $5 blind and now it's up to you. Throw your hand away! Queen/9 doesn't have enough potency to call even a half bet when other players have already indicated they can call a full bet. Give up your lousy two bucks - and fold.

So then, when can you pay the other $3 and see a flop in the small blind? That always depends on how many players are in the pot. If just one or two players called, you should probably play with something like an A/10, a K/J or Q/J minimum.

But if several players are in, then your "drawing" hands like 8/9 unsuited, or 6/5 suited will be getting good money odds to see a flop. If you can flop an open-ended straight draw or a four-flush for $3, there will be plenty enough bets in the pot to go all the way trying to complete your hand.

How about when you're the small blind and everybody folds around to the last player - then he raises it to $10? Seeing a flop here will cost you $8. Realize that the raiser might just be trying to steal the blind money. If you have enough to call, like maybe a Q/J, the big blind might decide to call the extra $5 and see a flop with you. That'll only make playing beyond the flop trickier for you. Better to re-raise it to $15, and probably get it down to you and the original raiser.