1. Texas Holdem Poker Facebook Home
2. Playing The Blinds In Poker
3. Blinds In Poker Texas Hold'em
4. What Are Blinds In Poker
5. Texas Holdem Blind Schedule

• Hold Em Poker Tournament

Texas Hold'em is a very complex game, and there is a lot to learn. In this section, we'll reveal the bare-bones of the game. Texas Hold'em is usually played with nine or ten players at a full table with a. Playing the Blinds in Hold'em Hand Selection from the Small Blind You can play some additional hands from the small blind if the pot was not raised and the conditions are right. You are getting a discount to call, and you have all the information about how the pot has developed unless the big blind happens to raise. May 16, 2020 Stealing the Blinds It’s one of the most important skills to develop as a tournament player – stealing the blinds. Players don’t seem bothered about stealing the blinds early on. However, soon as the blinds and antes rise and represent more value, the best players are fighting over them. A big blind is a mandatory bet used in poker variations that typically don't have antes, such as Texas Hold 'Em. It is paid by the player two seats to the left of the dealer or the dealer button. The player one seat to the left of the button pays a small blind that is usually half the big blind's size. Follow this link for full answer.

The Texas Hold Em Poker Tournament Blinds will determine the length of time a particular poker tournament takes to complete. In addition, the poker tournament blind structure provides an important strategic consideration for the style of play best suited to the particular poker tournament.

We aim to cover both suggested blind structures for your Texas Hold Em Home Poker Tournament as well as strategic considerations that depend on these varying blind structures.

This way, you can set up your poker tournament to last the desired length of time you prefer and be armed with the best poker tournament strategy to win it!

It is important to ensure that before starting any poker tournament that the poker tournament blinds to be used are posted for all of the players to see.

This will include the various levels with increases shown clearly as well as the amount of time between levels.

Another consideration before selecting your Texas Hold Em Tournament Blinds is the length of time that you would like the poker tournament to run for. Do you plan on playing a six hour tournament that lasts all night? Or are you hosting a quick three hour tournament?

Texas Holdem Poker Facebook Home

The best way to set up a tournament to fit the time available is by choosing the correct Texas Hold Em Tournament Blinds that will move play along as the desired pace.

Here is our suggestion for Texas Hold Em Poker Blinds structures for a 10 player tournament based on desired length of play.

We recommend starting with $2,000 worth of chips for the below Texas Hold Em Tournament Blinds chart:

Level	Small Blind	Big Blind
1	10	20
2	15	30
3	20	40
4	35	70
5	50	100
6	75	150
7	100	200
8	150	300
9	200	400
10	300	600
11	400	800
12	500	1000
13	750	1500
14	1000	2000
15	1500	3000
Time: 15 minute levels = 3 hours 30 minute levels = 6 hours

This Texas Hold Em Poker Tournament Blinds structure is easy to print and should be shown before the tournament begins. It is also easy to adjust as you wish by simply changing the length of time for each blind level.

If you find it takes too long, or is too short, simply adjust the time between levels next time around until you have the perfect tournament for you and your friends!

The suggested poker tournament blind structure can be adjusted by changing the time of the levels depending on the number of players. For example, if you have 20 players instead of 10, then half the time for each blind level for the same desired tournament length.

Playing The Blinds In Poker

If you have half the number of players – 5 players – then you can double the suggested time between blind levels to keep within the time limit. The chart is really easy to use and easy to adjust.

You may also find it useful to check out our page on Texas Hold Em Tournament Payout amounts as we provide charts that will make hosting your Texas Hold Em Home Poker Tournament hassle free.

Our site provides a lot of useful resources to help you plan your Texas Hold Em Home Poker Tournament so make sure that you take the time to look around.

The Texas Hold Em Tournament Blinds also affect your strategy when playing and this is important if you plan to win the tournament. If you are playing the shorter version of the tournament, the blinds will begin to increase more rapidly.

Therefore you have less time to wait for big hands and will eventually be forced to play aggressively and take some chances in order to stay ahead of the blinds. You need to ensure that you do this before your stack becomes too short compared to the size of the blinds.

Alternatively, if your tournament uses the longer time between blinds, then you have more time to wait for a big hand and less pressure on you to take risks. If this is the case, you will want to play more conservatively as time is on your side.

It is very important to understand how the Texas Hold Em Poker Tournament Blinds affect the tournament structure and how you need to change your style of play depending on how quickly the blinds increase. This is the key to winning Texas Hold Em Poker Tournaments.

Share This With Others:

Blinds In Poker Texas Hold'em

Return from Texas Hold Em Poker Tournament Blinds to The Texas Hold Em Poker Club

Stealing the Blinds

What Are Blinds In Poker

It’s one of the most important skills to develop as a tournament player – stealing the blinds. Players don’t seem bothered about stealing the blinds early on. However, soon as the blinds and antes rise and represent more value, the best players are fighting over them. It’s a skill that will help your in the money rate and ultimately your long-term profitability in tournament poker.

When I started playing online, it was a secretive thing that was not discussed. Most players did it without divulging the information. Even in live tournaments, you’d steal from the button, the big blind would show just an ace and you’d muck… but claim a better hand. Things are a little different now but it’s still a critical skill to learn and implement on European, Asian and USA friendly poker sites.

How Can I Keep Stealing the Blinds in 2020?

Sometimes stubbornness and being relentless is a good thing in poker. I see players attempt a couple of steals, get 3 bet and go into a shell. They have the mentality that they will tighten up, hope to get 3 bet again, yet still get paid. There are worse things to do but it’s not great strategy in my book (I haven’t actually authored a book yet!). I always tell players to continue with what you think is right. People seem to forget the beauty of the small open raises. It allows you to raise more frequently as you need a lower success % for it to be profitable. Why bother raising so small if you are only doing it with the top 15% of hands? To answer the question though, we can try several things.

3 Bet the Cut-off from the Button

Players know that the button is the prime spot for stealing, so many players are widening their range from cut-off instead. It looks like threatening doesn’t it when you see a raise from there? Guess what? A lot of players know this and are effectively “stealing the button”. A simple counter play is to 3 bet from the button. The beauty in this play is that cards are almost irrelevant and it has a high success rate. Yes, there are players that pick up on this if you do it too much but these are few and far between. This works best against those who have demonstrated a lot of activity from the cut-off but even against solid players it can be profitable. Consider a tight player in the cut-off with A-9. They will gladly open raise this but fold without question. The best part of the 3 bet in this spot is that most people are less inclined to play 3 bet pots out of position so a lot will just fold pre flop.

Min Raise from Early Position

This is a tricky play that should be used sporadically and only with the right table makeup. A min raise from early position screams strength to most online players. They respect early position and the min raise too. By opening raising the minimum from under the gun, you are telling the table you want action and this sends alarm signals. You might be surprised how often this play will get through. Sometimes you get the big blind defend but even then, it’s ok, you have the perception of strength and position. A continuation bet will work a high amount of the time in this situation.

Attack the Small Blind

A great spot to pick up chips is actually in blind battles, specifically if you’re the big blind. The psychology involved in blind battles is fascinating but it boils down to aggression and position. If the small blind raises, you know, that he knows, you have a random hand and is likely stealing. Now you know that, you can just 3 bet him and likely win. What if he limps? Raise again, you know he probably would have raised himself if he had something so just bet and pick it up. Blind battles are less about hand strength and more about wanting that pot.

Take the Nothing Pots

Online poker may not be as easy as it was, but there is still a heck of a lot of favourable spots in tournaments. There is an abundance of nothing pots around. Pick them up throughout a tournament and you will increase your chances of success. It doesn’t take much, just bet at them and see. Most players are not giving the game enough attention. Perhaps they see a 4 big blind pot and don’t care or maybe they are watching Netflix. They are probably playing too many tables and only playing their cards. Take advantage of these nothing pots. I mean the pots where it’s a limped pot, it’s checked round and maybe you’re in the big blind with nothing. Take a stab and win the free chips.

Don’t Stop Raising Your Button

The last tip I can give is the simplest of all. Don’t stop raising your button. Soon as you stop, you’re beat and only waiting for luck to help you. People may 3 bet you, but they won’t every time. If they start 3 betting too much, that’s fine, they are risking more than you are. You can choose to take a stand with a lesser hand and make him show you better or you can play patient. The reality is, the small open raise is still incredibly profitable from the button. A competent post flop player won’t mind the blinds calling and is also happy to steal the blinds. Either way, you’re golden in the long run. Keep opening your button and don’t give up.

Stealing the Blinds Summary

Texas Holdem Blind Schedule

Blind stealing is essential to being a successful tournament player. It reduces the variance and ensures you’re not just relying on good cards to see you through. The best tournament players are looking for profitable scenarios, not just profitable cards. This means thinking on your feet, adapting and perhaps being innovative. This may mean 3 betting the cutoff, trying a tricky minimum raise from early position or pounding on the small blind. These are all little strategies that you can incorporate into your game to help you have a better chance of surviving the increasing blinds.
If you enjoyed this article and want help with your tournament game. Feel free to trial our poker mentor service by email. Month 1 is only £50.