A poker ante can be likened to a forced bet. Players must place a minimum bet before the cards are dealt and an ante forms a key part of the overall game’s betting structure.
In this guide, we will show you how to post antes, explore betting limits and suggest some useful strategies to help you get the most from your ante bets.
WHAT DOES THE TERM ANTE MEAN IN POKER?
An ante equates to the number of chips that a player must put in before a poker game begins. Posting antes is therefore very similar to posting a blind bet. Antes can be found in cash games, although they aren’t found in every cash game. Nevertheless, everyone has to place bets and not just those with certain seats at the poker table.
There are of course some exceptions as they will comprise the structure of stud games. A poker ante in studs is the bring-in which will generally be quite small. This will differ from other tournament formats, where for example, in Texas hold’em, the small or big blind system is traditionally used. Arguably, the ante is designed to make the poker button easier to use when playing online poker.
HOW DO ANTES WORK IN POKER?
Forced bets are crucial in poker games as they help drive the action before the first betting round gets underway. This is especially the case where a mandatory bet is placed as poker players like to raise the stakes by increasing the pot size in live poker games.
Having an ante can help create a sense of buzz in the later stages or later rounds of a game and the ante amount will usually vary from one poker game to another. Typically, an ante will equate to 10% of a big blind and this will help to determine player wins.
So, as the big blinds increase, the poker ante will soar too. You simply can’t sit around and wait to see whether your stack increases after the first round. 100/200 refers to the blinds valued at 100 and 200 and the big blind will need to post an ante of 200.
Blind bets, therefore, come in all shapes and sizes and the small blind has its place within the game.
POKER ANTE RULES
Usually, an ante will be introduced after the first few rounds to entice more players to the table and it simplifies betting. Whereas in the fast-paced environment of tournaments, you will see a game will have antes right from the off.
The forced bets can see some players be rather looser in cash games when it comes to the pre flop.
ANTE IN TOURNAMENTS
As opposed to other games, antes in a poker tournament are the rule and not the exception. But why are tournaments more conducive to antes than regular cash games? Well, first and foremost, tournaments will reach a natural conclusion and don’t go on indefinitely.
The second reason is that the game play of tournaments will dictate when players post an ante. As we have seen, the bring in amount will only heighten tensions evident in tournaments.
WHO PAYS THE ANTE?
In high roller poker tournaments, the ante will be paid by every player at the table. Sometimes, the sum can rocket and in the latter stages, the ante could be as much as double what was contributed by players in the initial deal.
In online poker, the dealer button will signal the initial sum put in and it is up to you whether to stake the same amount as your opponents.
WHAT IS A BIG BLIND ANTE?
Big blinds were designed to primarily save time in live games. A big blind is twice the size of a small blind and it is paid by the person to the immediate left of the small blind.
Instead of the dealer going around collecting the ante, players in the big blind could post the full value of antes.
Those who get to the latter stages of a tournament could decide to manipulate the kill blind to try and eliminate the competition. Ultimately, in most games, there will be some luck involved.
ANTE POKER TIPS
Whether you are playing a small blind or a big blind, here are a few useful tips when you use an ante.
- Search for value – Paying for an ante can make a dent in your bankroll, so look for good spots when you can.
- Be aggressive – You shouldn’t be overzealous, but don’t be afraid to be assertive and claim those chips wherever possible.
- Try out free tournaments – Some sites will have a “play money” version which will be like a demo mode, so you can have fun for free first.
SUMMARY
Antes, as we have seen are forced bets, but they can provide an exhilarating experience in a poker game. We hope we have cleared up any confusion surrounding antes and our tips should help you enter tournaments with more confidence.