LearnTheOdds
POKER STUDIO · TEXAS HOLD’EMPlay chips only · No wagering

1 · LEARN THE TABLE · LESSON 4 OF 29 · 4 min

The button and blinds

THE IDEA

The dealer button moves one seat after each hand. The two seats immediately to its left post forced bets called the small blind and big blind. Position matters because acting later gives you more information about what others have chosen.

AT THE TABLE

At a six-player table with a 1/2 blind structure, the small blind starts by posting 1 chip and the big blind posts 2. The first player to act before the flop sits left of the big blind.

The button, blinds, and action order Your cards are A♠ and K♦. The board is not yet dealt. The pot holds 3 practice chips. Jules has the dealer button. You has 1 chips in on this street. Maya has 2 chips in on this street. POT 3 PREFLOP You SMALL BLIND Maya BIG BLIND Theo FOLDED Nina FOLDED Sam FOLDED Jules ●D FOLDED D 1 2 A♠ K♦ TO CALL 1 · 25% BREAK-EVEN SHARE
Your hand: A♠ K♦ · Pot 3 · Dealer button: Jules · Call 1 · Maya in 2
The button, blinds, and action order. This is the prepared spot you can play in the trainer.

Use the button to find the action order

The button marks a seat, not a player who must physically deal. After each hand it moves one seat clockwise. The player immediately left of it posts the small blind, and the next player posts the big blind. At a 1/2 table, those forced contributions are 1 and 2 chips. They create a pot before anyone chooses to play.

Before the flop at a table of three or more, action starts left of the big blind. The big blind gets a turn even if no one raises; if everyone only calls, the big blind may check and see the flop without adding chips. After the flop, action starts with the first active player left of the button. The button often acts last, which is valuable because it sees the others' choices first. If a player folds, skip that seat rather than changing the order.

Heads-up is the exception beginners often miss. With only two players, the button also posts the small blind and acts first before the flop. The big blind acts first on the flop, turn, and river. In either format, track the active seats anew each street; the button itself does not move until the hand ends.

Try it at the table

At the prepared table, point to the button and both blinds. Predict who acts first before the flop and who acts first after it, then check the action log.

WATCH FOR THIS

After the flop, action begins with the first active player left of the button. With only two players, the button posts the small blind and acts first before the flop; the big blind acts first after the flop.

MAKE THE CALL

Who normally acts first before the flop at a six-player table?

Try a related table spot

Start with a prepared decision, then play the rest of the hand with practice chips. Turn on guidance to see the trainer's reasoning.

Open the trainer →