Playing from the Blinds: Small Blind and Big Blind

## Playing from the Blinds The blinds are the two most unprofitable positions in poker because you act first on every postflop street. Even the best players lose money from the blinds — the goal is to minimize those losses. From the small blind, play a tight strategy with a clear plan for each hand. Completing the small blind with marginal hands creates an exploitable pattern. Either raise or fold in most situations. From the big blind, you get a discount on calls (you have already posted the blind). This means your calling range is wider than from any other position. Defend against raises with a range of 40-55% of hands depending on the raiser's position and sizing. ## Applying This at the Tables Understanding playing from the blinds is one thing — executing it under pressure is another. Practice by focusing on this specific concept for an entire session, then review relevant hands afterward to evaluate your execution. ## Impact on Your Poker Income Improving your strategic fundamentals directly increases your win rate. Combined with optimal rakeback from the right poker room, every strategic improvement multiplies your overall earnings. Use our rakeback calculator to ensure your room choice maximizes the value of your improving play.