[AceDeuceNoUse]

Can someone please explain this to me like I'm a 5 year old - does it mean that if you were away from the table during your blinds, and you post both blinds just when the button passes, you get the button back? Or are you getting the button one hand early if you post both blinds from the SB after being away? I'm so confused.

[dom]

Buying the button refers to a bet which is made to "buy position". In other words, to fold out all players between yourself and the button. This means that on all subsequent betting rounds you will be last to act, just as if you had the button.

[AceDeuceNoUse]

Originally Posted by dom

Buying the button refers to a bet which is made to "buy position". In other words, to fold out all players between yourself and the button. This means that on all subsequent betting rounds you will be last to act, just as if you had the button.

So it has nothing to do with posting missed blinds? IIRC, I have only seen/heard this offered when a player is one position away from the current button position and needs to post one or both blinds in order to see a hand.

[PhilLaFond]

I'm curious too, as I've only heard the term used on HSP 4 the other night. I thought if you left a cash game table you had to post both missed blinds to play when you return or wait for the blinds to get around to you again and then post.

On HSP it seemed as though Matusow posted the missed blinds and then got the button. Confused me a not a little bit.

Phil

[jldecarlo]

Originally Posted by dom

Buying the button refers to a bet which is made to "buy position". In other words, to fold out all players between yourself and the button. This means that on all subsequent betting rounds you will be last to act, just as if you had the button.

This is incorrect (or at least there is another definition). It confuses me too, but in some casinos when you first sit down at a table, or when you return after an absence, you have the option of "buying the button."

A player with a missed blind button may reenter the game by posting both blinds from the small-blind position (one seat left of the button). The big blind amount is live and the small blind amount is dead. The players to his left, who would normally be posting the small blind and big blind, post nothing on that hand. On the next hand, the player who bought the button gets the button. The blinds resume as usual, and life goes on.

L

[dom]

It turns out there *are* two definitions:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...or_poker_hands

buy the button

1. A rule originating in northern California casinos in games played with blinds, in which a new player sitting down with the button to his right (who would normally be required to sit out a hand as the button passed him, then post to come in) may choose to pay the amount of both blinds for this one hand (the amount of the large blind playing as a live blind, and the amount of the small blind as dead money), play this hand, and then receive the button on the next hand as if he had been playing all along. See public cardroom rules (poker).
2. Usually done by the person sitting to the immediate right of the dealer, to raise to encourage the button player to fold, thus giving the raiser last position in subsequent betting rounds.

Both definitions pop up in several other places on the net. Here's a link to a detailed explanation of the term meaning paying blinds to get the button on a round: http://poker.betfirms.com/art/publish/article_249.shtml

[UsIreland]

How it works in the casino I work in is, if you sit down to a table inbetween the dealer and the small blind you have the option to "buy the button" where you pay a dead small blind + a live big blind. Small blind and big blind remain as normal but you are now in the dealer position on subsiquent rounds. When action comes to you, you can check/call, raise or fold.

I hope this helps
Regards
Ian

[Double Eagle]

Some card rooms allow you to buy the button when you come back to your table after an absence and you just miss posting the big blind. On the next hand you may re-enter the game by posting both the big and the small blinds.

The small blind is dead and goes in to the pot. The players that would normally be posting the small blind and big blind on this hand do not post any blinds. On the next hand, you get the button (since you paid for it) and the blinds resume as usual.

I like this method better than having to post both blinds behind the button in order to re-enter the game or waiting for the big blind to come around to me again.

[AceDeuceNoUse]

OK, so my confusion was about when you receive the button. Bottom line, if you want to get back into the game (or start your game, if you're the new player) 2 hands earlier (rather than wait for the button to pass you and then post only BB), you can take this option.

As I understand now:

• Option is offered to a new/returning player sitting down with the button immediately to his/her right
• You are "buying the button" for the next hand, not the current one
• You are essentially in SB position for the current hand.
• You are last to act pre-flop (right?)
• You are first to act after the flop

Using HSP S4E1 as an example:

Hand 1:
--------
Solorio - Button
Hellmuth- posts SB
Matusow - (absent)
Laak - posts BB

Hand 2:
--------
Hellmuth - Button
Matusow - Returns, posts Dead SB, Live BB
Laak - No blind
Brandon - No blind

Hand 3:
--------
Matusow - Button
Laak - posts SB
Brandon - posts BB

Mike now was able to play 2 more hands than if he had waited for the button to pass to Phil Laak. Do I have it right finally?

[jdunford]

Originally Posted by AceDeuceNoUse

As I understand now:

• Option is offered to a new/returning player sitting down with the button immediately to his/her right
• You are "buying the button" for the next hand, not the current one
• You are essentially in SB position for the current hand.
• You are second-last to act pre-flop (right?)
• You are first to act after the flop

Using HSP S4E1 as an example:

Hand 1:
--------
Solorio - Button
Hellmuth- posts SB
Matusow - (absent)
Laak - posts BB

Hand 2:
--------
Hellmuth - Button
Matusow - Returns, posts Dead SB, Live BB
Laak - posts BB
Brandon - No blind

Hand 3:
--------
Matusow - Button
Laak - posts SB
Brandon - posts BB

FYP (I think). The big blind would still be able to act after you pre-flop.

*EDIT* (unless I'm mistaken and you are right... I didn't realize you had Laak not posting a BB when I first posted this; I guess it would be slightly unfair for Laak to post the BB in two consecutive hands... plus the SB the following hand...)