Of Blinds and Betting
In the game of Texas Hold’em, antes are not required but blinds are compulsory. An ante is a small amount, usually agreed upon by the players and not strictly set with any poker game’s mechanics, that all players need to shell out and place into the pot before the 
cards are dealt. This serves the main purpose of increasing the value of the pot. Also, it keeps players in the game because they’ve already paid a certain amount of money that, if they quit, they will surely lose. Just like the ante, a blind is a kind of required bet. However, while the ante is required from everyone, there are only two blinds: the big blind and the small blind. The assignment rotates to give everyone a fair chance.
The small blind is initially the person to the left of the dealer. He is required to place a required bet that amounts to half the lower betting limit. For example, in a $2 – $4 game, the small blind would be $1. This bet is also placed in the pot before the dealer distributes cards to the players. Paying he small blind does not mean instant entry into the round. In order to be counted as a player in the round, one has to place the initial wager amounting to the lower limit or the minimum bet, and the small blind only pays half. He must pay the remaining balance before he can partake of the pot. The big blind is the player to the left of the small blind. He pays the full amount of the lower betting limit and is automatically part of the round unless another player raises the minimum wager.