Before any cards are dealt, some of the players will make forced bets. The most common method of forced bets is called "blinds", where two players to the left of the dealer make bets which are called the "Small Blind" and "Big Blind". These forced bets must be at least matched by the other players in order to keep their hands. The big blind is twice as much as the small blind. If the big blind was $1000, then it is said that the blinds are 500 and 1000. This money is put into a place in the center of the table that is called the "pot". The other common forced bet is called an "ante", where every player contributes a small amount to the pot for the right to receive cards. 