Small Blind (SB)
The smaller of the two forced bets, posted by the player directly to the left of the dealer button.
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What Is Small Blind (SB)?
The small blind acts first on every post-flop betting round but acts second-to-last preflop, right before the big blind. Because it's a tough position to play profitably out of position for the rest of the hand, many strategies recommend a tighter or more selective preflop range from the small blind compared to other late positions.
Examples
Posting $1 as the small blind in a $1/$2 cash game.
Completing the small blind for an additional chip after the big blind's forced bet.
Strategy Tips
Because you'll be out of position for the entire hand after the flop, play a tighter range from the small blind than you would from the button or cutoff. Consider 3-betting more and calling less, since calling out of position against the big blind gives up a positional advantage without much benefit. In tournaments, be mindful of the small blind's ICM implications when stacks are shallow. Some modern strategies favor a mixed limp/raise approach from the small blind against the big blind specifically, given the incomplete price already in the pot.