Texas Holdem Poker Blinds Timer
Nothing seems to confuse new Texas hold 'em players more than the blinds. Let's sort it out.
A Poker Clock Timer keeps track of levels and blinds so that players will no longer be confused about the action and the stages of the tournament. It’s one of the easiest ways for you to stay on top of your poker home games. In most forms of poker, such as the most popular one of No-Limit Texas Hold’em, there are forced blind bets that must be put forward by the players to the immediate left of the button before any cards are dealt. These blind bets are called the small blind and the big blind. This form allows the user to select/define blind levels and times for a Texas HoldEm poker tournament. It will display a real time clock showing the current blinds and time remaining at the current level. It has been designed for amateur events in North Texas run by the WPT League.
I used to play stud and draw poker with neighbors. I don't still play, but like to read about poker strategy. Would you please explain how the big blind and little blind work in hold 'em? I'm sure many of us who read LuckyDog have no idea. — Dale H., Kankakee, Ill.
Well, Dale, since I had the same question this month from John, a co-worker of mine in Moline, Ill., it's a good time to explain the blinds in hold 'em.
Think of the blinds as antes used to stimulate betting and initiate play. There's one key difference: Unlike stud and draw poker, in which every player must pay the same pre-determined ante before each deal, in hold 'em only the first two players to the left of the dealer position have to post a blind.
The dealer for each hand is designated by a round disk called a button. Except for the first betting round, the player with the dealer button gets to act last throughout the hand. On the first betting round, the two players in the blinds act after the button, then are first to act on remaining betting rounds.
The button moves clockwise one position for each new hand. That rotates the advantage of last action and assures that for every circuit of the button around the table, each player will pay the two blinds once. The little blind usually is half the amount of the big blind.
Here's an example:
You're in seat five of a nine-handed $4-$8 limit hold 'em cash game and the dealer button reaches seat three. That means you are in the big blind position and must put $4 in front of you before the cards are dealt. The player to your right in seat four must post the $2 small blind.
Two down cards are then dealt to each player, starting with the small blind. On the first betting round, action starts with the player to your left in seat six, a position called 'under the gun,' meaning first to act.
From the big blind, you are last to act before the flop. If no one has raised (to $8 in this case) when the action gets back around to you, you have two options — you can check, since you're already in for the $4 bet, or you can raise to $8. Don't fold. Even a lousy 7-2 offsuit can turn into quads on a perfect flop!
If someone raises before the action gets back to you pre-flop, you have three options: fold and forfeit your $4; call the additional $4, or re-raise by betting $8 more for a total of $12.
After the flop, the betting rotation changes. The player in the small blind on your right acts first for the rest of the hand, then you. If he has folded, you're first to act each round until the hand ends.
On the next hand, the button moves to seat four. Now you're in the small blind position and must post $2 before the deal. To stay in the hand, you must match the bet amount when it's your turn ($2 more if no one raises). Or you can fold, losing your $2 small blind.
On the next hand, you get the dealer button and can see your starting hands for free until it's time to post the blinds again.
We'll tackle playing strategies from the blind positions in a future column, Dale and John, but for now here are some other things to know:
— Some card rooms play hold 'em with a 'dead' button. That means the big blind is posted by the seated player due for it, and the small blind and button are positioned accordingly, whether or not players actually are seated there to receive a hand. This gives last-action advantage to a player on consecutive hands.
— If you miss paying one or both blinds, you must post the appropriate amount when you return or sit out until the big blind position advances to you. If you post mid-circuit, you still must pay the blinds when they reach you a few hands later in that round.
— When joining a game in progress, some card rooms require that you post the big blind amount if you want to be dealt in right away. You can choose to sit out until the big blind position reaches you normally, which is a good option because you can watch a few hands risk-free and get a feel for the table's action.
— In heads-up play using two blinds, the small blind is on the button. That player acts first before the flop and last on each subsequent betting round.
E-mail your poker questions and comments to [email protected] for use in future columns. To find out more about Russ Scott and read previous LuckyDog Poker columns, visit www.creators.com or www.luckydogpoker.com.
- Hold Em Poker Tournament
A Texas Hold Em Poker tournament timer or Texas Hold Em Poker tournament clock is a great way to keep your home poker tournament running smoothly.
A timer allows you to keep on top of the increases in tournament blinds without having to watch the clock. After all, in the heat of a poker tournament, who remembers to check the clock every 15 minutes anyways?
There are various types of timer and clock options available on the market from free poker tournament timers for your computer, to tournament clocks, and even poker tournament timers built in to the dealer button.
The Club has reviewed the various options available and tells you about the best of them below:
Best Free Texas Hold Em Poker Tournament Clock
Looking for a free Texas Hold Em Poker tournament clock that will run on your computer? We recommend www.poker-clock.com as one of the best computer based tournament clocks out there.
This free software is easy to use and will keep track of the time and actual blind levels as you play. You can key in the blind levels ahead of time and have this clock do it all for you.
This clock software has a lot of great features and even doubles as a Texas Hold Em Poker tournament manager.
Best Texas Hold Em Poker Tournament Timer
One of the best poker tournament timers out there is the ESPN Tournament Director poker tournament timer. This is a high quality timer that keeps track of your poker tournament and does a whole lot more.
The ESPN timer is used by the pros on TV and has a digital display that is large enough to be seen by everyone in the room. In addition, this tournament timer allows you to key in your blind levels and will automatically show the increases for each round.
Texas Holdem Poker Blinds Timer Countdown
This is the Cadillac of tournament timers and sells for $59.99. It is the perfect way to impress your friends and feel like a pro when you host a Texas Hold Em Home Poker Tournament. The ESPN timer is perfect for larger multi-table tournaments as it can be seen from a distance.
We recommend buying one at www.poker-dude.com .
Texas Hold Em Poker Dealer Button Timers
A Texas Hold Em Poker dealer button timer is an innovative idea. Doubling both as a dealer button and a timer, this is a cool toy to have for your home game.
We recommend the WSOP Ultimate Dealer Button Poker Tournament Timer for both a classy look and functionality. This button allows you to program the blind levels for the entire tournament. With a beeping sound to alert you as to when the blinds are to increase you will never miss a beat.
There is also a pause and restart button on the timer which is a great plus. The dealer button will also fit into your poker chip case making it easy to carry around and easy to remember. It is also officially licensed by the WSOP and is not a knockoff. This dealer button timer sells for $24.99 and is available at www.poker-dude.com.
With all of the Texas Hold Em Poker tournament timer options out there the choice is really up to you. Poker tournament timers make hosting a poker tournament easy and fun as you don’t have the responsibility of keeping track of time. Also, for more serious home tournaments, a tournament clock prevents mistakes being made in keeping track of time and therefore any arguments that may result.
Texas Holdem Poker Blinds Timer Free
A Texas Hold Em Poker tournament is much more fun when it is run properly and easily. We recommend buying a poker tournament timer or clock as a great way to organize your poker tournament and keep things running like clockwork!
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