It is a forced bet that every player at the table is required to put into the pot before the start of a hand. Antes are typically used in addition to blinds and are common in tournament play. They help build the pot and create action, as players have money at stake even before they receive their hole cards.
This is a variation of the traditional ante system, primarily used in poker tournaments. In this format, instead of each player contributing a small forced bet (ante) before a hand, only the player in the big blind position pays the ante for the entire table. This streamlines the process, speeds up the game, and eliminates the need for every player to contribute an ante separately. It has become increasingly popular in tournament poker to enhance efficiency and reduce the time spent collecting and posting antes.