Online Poker Rules - Blinds

Online Poker Rules - Blinds

If a player can fold, without having to put any money in; Why can he not simply fold all the time until he gets a great hand?

Making each player pay a "tax" on each hand played, prevents this from occurring.  This 'tax'  takes the form of a blind bet.  With each hand played, 1 player will put in a big blind or BB and the player in front of him will put in a small blind or a SB - which in most internet or online poker games is 1/2 the size of the BB.  The BB is the size of a small bet in a limit game.

The blind bet is paid irrespective of whether the player is dealt good cards or not.  The other players in the game must then call or raise the blind bet or they must fold. 

The player in the SB bet must make up the difference between the BB and the SB to remain in the game. ie:  If the BB was $10 and the small blind was $5, the player in the SM would have to pay a further $5 to stay in the game or in the hand - match his bet.