NEW GAME
Once the first hand of a new game has been dealt, any player entering the game shall be required to address blinds the same as new player entering any other game, although some houses for a set period allow a new player in a new game to receive a free hand behind the button until the game fills. See Caro & Cooke's Rules relating to the start of new games for more details.


SHORT-HANDED GAMES
When there are five or fewer players in a hold em game, four or fewer players in a draw game, a new player entering the game shall not be required to post his blinds, but shall get a free hand in his seat. He may take a hand immediately without posting, wait for the big blind and post in the normal course of play, or wait for the blinds and button to pass and post a big blind only behind the button. (Alternate Rule. There shall be no differentiation between short-handed games and full games insofar as a new player posting blinds is concerned.)


STRADDLES & SLEEPERS
A player may elect to post an extra voluntary blind bet, which in limit games shall be twice the big blind, effectively raising the blind. If posted under the gun (immediately to the left of the big blind) then this blind raise is known as a straddle and it is live, so that if the pot is not raised when action comes back to the straddler he shall have the option of raising his blind bet, just as any other blind bet is live. If however the player making the blind raise is in any other position, then this blind raise is known as a sleeper, and it is not live. Either a straddle or sleeper may be raised blind by any player to act behind the player who posts the straddle or sleeper. If the first active player immediately to the left of the straddler raises blind, then it is a re-straddle and is live, and so on unless and until the pot is capped. (IE If in a $20-$40 game the under the gun player straddles making it $40 to go blind, then player #2 to act may re-straddle, making it $60, player #3 may re-straddle again making it $80, and player #4 may cap it at $100 blind.) If the pot is capped blind then the last straddler's raise is NOT live, and no raises are open. If there is a straddle or re-straddle, pre-flop betting action is initiated by the player to the left of the last straddler. (Alternate Rule. Straddles and Sleepers are prohibited. This rule, however kills action and it is strongly recommended that it not be adopted.)


ALL-IN FOR PART OF THE BLIND
If a player goes all in for a portion of the big blind, then subsequent action shall be made as if the player had posted the full big blind, requiring players to call the full amount of the big blind, raise or fold, regardless of whether the amount posted is more or less than half a bet. (Alternate Rule. A player who is obligated to post a blind must have the full amount of the blind to receive a hand.)

EFFECT OF SEAT CHANGES ON THE BLINDS
  1. Moving into the blinds. A player who is moving closer to the blinds shall not be required to post in his new seat, and shall immediately receive a hand.
  2. A player who moves away from the blinds shall not receive a hand until the button has advanced so that he is the same number of seats away from the blinds that he was before the seat change; or the player may elect to post a big blind in his new seat. (Alternate Rule. A player who moves two active players or fewer away from the blinds shall not be required to post in his new seat, and shall immediately receive a hand. A player who moves more than two active players away from the blinds shall be required to post a big blind before receiving a hand, or he may wait until the button has advanced to a position where his new seat is the same number of positions from the big blind as his old seat was before the seat change.) The main rule is more common in California, the alternate rule prevalent in Las Vegas. The main rule is preferred because it results in the least change in game conditions and is more fair.
  3. Moving into a seat with the dealer button or the blind. A player who moves into a seat which is due to post the big blind may receive a hand immediately in the big blind or may wait for the blinds and button to pass and post a big blind behind the button. A player who moves into a seat which is due to post the small blind must wait until the button has passed him and shall post a big blind behind the button. A player who moves into a seat which is due to have the button shall wait one hand, and if he has moved more than two active players he may post a big blind behind the button or wait to receive a hand until the button has advanced so that his seat is the same number of positions from the big blind as his old seat was before the seat change.
  4. Moving when it is a player's turn to post the small blind. A player who is due to post the small blind, having just posted his big blind, may move to any seat except the button or the big blind and post his small blind in the new seat, and then post the blinds in the normal course of play when they come to him. If he wishes to move into a seat which is due to have either the button or the big blind, he shall post his small blind where he is, deal off the button, and move into the seat behind the button.
  5. Moving immediately after having posted the blinds or played the button. A player who has just paid his big blinds or has dealt off his button may move to any seat except the button or blind seats and receive a free hand.
  6. Moving from the button. No player may move when it's his button hand as this would give the player to his right the benefit of last action twice in a row. The player must take a hand and deal off.
  7. Dead Small Blind Money. When a player is required to post both a big blind and small blind at the same time, the big blind is live, and shall be placed in front of the player, and the money which would constitute the small blind is dead, and shall be pulled to the center of the pot.
  8. Dealing Off. A player who deals off may allow the blinds to pass his new seat one time and re-enter the game behind the button without having to post any blinds.