Small blind
also called SB
The small blind is the smaller of the two forced bets, posted by the player immediately to the left of the button, and it is the worst seat at the table.
It combines the two things you least want. Money is already committed, which tempts you into hands you would otherwise fold, and you act first on every street after the flop against everyone still in the pot.
That is why it loses money for nearly every winning player, and why the aim there is to lose less rather than to win. A tighter range and a willingness to give up the posted chips is worth more than any clever line.
an example
your cards
You have posted half a big blind and everyone folds to you. Completing with king eight offsuit puts more money in with a weak hand that has to act first for the rest of the hand, which is how the small blind quietly costs the most.
This example is made up. The real one is in your own hand history: find small blind in your own hands and see how often it came up and what it cost you.
related terms
Big blind
The big blind is the larger of the two forced bets, posted by the player two seats left of the button, and it is also th ...
Blinds
The blinds are the two forced bets posted before any cards are dealt, by the two players to the left of the button, so t ...
Out of position
You are out of position when you have to act before your opponent on every betting round after the flop, which means com ...
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Knowing the word is not the same as seeing it.
The full order of play, from the blinds to the showdown.