In the game of poker, the big blind (BB) is the most challenging position at the table. This poker position is one of the most competitive in terms of gaining an advantage over opponents. A beginner player will nearly lose money in the long run since they are at a significant disadvantage pre-flop. Learning a big blind poker strategy can minimize the losses from this position, which will significantly increase the win rate. But before we dive into the strategies, let’s first understand what big blind poker means.
What does big blind in poker mean?
In the game of poker, the player positioned two seats to the left from the dealer button is known as the big blind, whereas the player positioned directly to the left from the dealer is known as the small blind. The big blind is also the name of the compulsory pre-flop bet that a player in this position has to pay before the start of the game. The amount of the blind bet is usually double that of the small blind. For example, Suppose you are playing a ₹50/₹100 No-Limit Texas Hold’em poker. In this case, the big blind bet is ₹100, and the small blind is ₹50. This big blind amount will be paid by the player sitting at the big blind poker position.
What overall big blind poker strategy can a player adopt?
To succeed in the big blind position requires a different online poker strategy when playing poker virtually. Although every spot needs a plan of action, it is particularly important for the BB position as this is where the majority of players lose a large amount of money in the long term. This is due to the fact that a player in this position makes decisions based on the least amount of information. So, what big blind poker strategy should you employ if you find yourself in a BB position?
This varies from round to round, as when a player takes action, it changes from pre-flop to post-flop. The BB spot is considered a late position before the flop that changes to an early position post-flop. Even though there are a few advantages to this, the fact is that you have no option as to whether or not a player has a good hand; the player at the BB position is required to always make a minimum bet prior to the flop. A player might have an option to call, raise, or fold based on how opponents have acted pre-flop, but they cannot protect the bankroll as compared to other players in a late position just because a player has already committed their blind bet to the pot. If you are in the big blind position, here is how you should approach a game:
Pre-flop: A player can use a pre-flop round to find out as much information as possible on the opponents as well as the strength of their hands. If an opponent has raised, a player should only call or raise if they have a premium hand. However, if none of the opponents raises in the pre-flop round, a player can call to see what community cards appear in the post-flop round. If a player does not have a strong hand, it is advisable to fold instead of risking money post-flop.
Post-flop: In the post-flop round, a player must adopt an early position approach, as they will be the second player to take action. To increase the winning chances as an early position player, it is recommended to play monster hands. This is because a player will not be able to observe how the other players act, which results in decisions based on less information. That is why position plays an important role in the game of poker.
The takeaway
Now that you know how to play a big blind poker strategy, it is time to put it into practice. Whether you are a recreational player seeking a few fun poker games or a professional poker player looking for online poker tournaments, you can practice and test your skills on Gamentio. On the Gamentio platform, players can play free games and tournaments for unlimited hours until they feel confident about their gameplay. Are you ready to place your big blinds? Download the poker app for free and test your skills anytime, anywhere.