What is Small Blind (SB) in poker?

The Small Blind (SB) is a compulsory, smaller bet posted by the player immediately to the left of the dealer button. Typically, it is half the size of the Big Blind. Positionally, the Small Blind is considered one of the most challenging spots at the table because this player acts first on every street post-flop, making it difficult to play hands profitably without positional advantage. Successful SB play requires a refined strategy to navigate being out of position against the entire table.

In a $2/$5 cash game, the Small Blind posts $2, and the Big Blind posts $5.

Small Blind (SB) (Small Blind (SB)) belongs to the Betting side of the game and shows up in almost every hand of Texas Hold'em. If you are just starting out, read the poker rules and the hand rankings first, then come back here. To practise risk-free you can play against our AI right on the site.