The Deal

Blinds, like their cousin the ante, are designed to encourage action. Think about it this way: Without blinds, the first person to throw it in a bet would be risking money to win nothing. These aren't appealing odds to a thinking poker player, who wouldn't open the betting without the strongest of hands. The blinds, however, create instant pot odds, giving a player the chance to win something more than what he or she has wagered.