[JHarvell]

I want to introduce a dealers choice night to our weekly poker game. I only want to use games that have a button because each game will be played for one orbit and I don't want to eliminate positional advantage for the person calling the game. Can 7 card stud/razz be played with a button and blinds? If so is this structure typically done fixed limit format?

[vikefan24]

I don't see why not

[jamby]

I would think that rather than playing with button/blinds you'd just use a 2nd button to mark the dealer as is done with H.O.R.S.E. and other rotation games that vary between blinds and antes. That's how we do it at the meet-ups when playing such rotation games.

Originally Posted by JHarvell

II only want to use games that have a button because each game will be played for one orbit and I don't want to eliminate positional advantage for the person calling the game.

[abby99]

A button is completely appropriate, but I wouldn't use blinds. If the antes would be too small for the chips in play, have the dealer post the ante for the entire table. It's just as fair as having each person post his/her ante for each hand, and it eliminates the need to make sure that everybody has anted.

The WSOP uses the dealer-antes-for-the-table method in the earliest rounds of some tournaments in order to avoid chips with values less than $25.

[hachkc]

I've played it both ways. Doesn't really seem to make a difference though we always play full orbits when we play dealer's choice games.

[ipgyst]

You do need the button in 7-stud because if two people are high with AK8 showing, you need a way to determine who bets first and you use the button for that.

You could do blinds also for the first round, but to keep the spirit of the game, the player with the best upcards should go first after the first betting round. That lets the low upcard off the hook, which is a good thing when it's you.

[Harlequin011]

IMO the blinds should not be used in stud.

To determine action the highest Ace would go first in the example given above.

Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, Spades

I don't like the dealer post for all either. What do you do when players skip hands or bust out?

Then again I've only played cash. If you want to be sure everyone gets a turn just use a button. Or follow the deck, have the game change every time it gets to a certain person/seat. On a dealer rotation it should be easy.

[abby99]

Originally Posted by Harlequin011

I don't like the dealer post for all either. What do you do when players skip hands or bust out?

That could be handled in a couple of ways. If I knew the player was just sitting out for 1-2 hands and it happened when he had the button, I'd call it a dead button and take his ante from his stack. If somebody busts out and doesn't rebuy, I wouldn't do anything special, just move on. Assuming the antes are relatively small and it's a cash game, so the guy got a free look at a couple of hands. Not worth worrying about IMO, especially if we're talking less than a buck.

My frame of reference is a $0.25-$0.50 or $0.50-$1.00 where the ante would require a smaller fractional chip. At higher stakes, the appropriate chips would most likely be in the chip set and on the table.

[Harlequin011]

Originally Posted by abby99

My frame of reference is a $0.25-$0.50 or $0.50-$1.00 where the ante would require a smaller fractional chip. At higher stakes, the appropriate chips would most likely be in the chip set and on the table.

But we're chip phreaks! I can see some dice chip genuine casino weighted slug sets not being used correctly. But not us!

In hold-em if you get up and your not on a blind you just miss the hand. Your disadvantage, right? In the stud game would you still make the dealer post the ante for the absent person? Why should they not have to pay as much as the person before them?

Oh... What if a fixed dealer ante was used? Say X per dealer regardless of players?

My original thought remains. By using blinds for stud you change the chemistry of the game. I may be old fashioned in this regard but I feel that every now and then you should get stuck for 12 bring-ins in a row, and on the rare night never be forced to start it off.

I happen to think antes and random bring-in is a big part of the game. I'd rather play for a bigger ante regardless.

[abby99]

Originally Posted by Harlequin011

But we're chip phreaks! I can see some dice chip genuine casino weighted slug sets not being used correctly. But not us!

For sure! I had a set of hot-stamped T-molds to use as nickels with my Pharaoh's (check out my current avatar).

In hold-em if you get up and your not on a blind you just miss the hand. Your disadvantage, right? In the stud game would you still make the dealer post the ante for the absent person? Why should they not have to pay as much as the person before them?

Oh... What if a fixed dealer ante was used? Say X per dealer regardless of players?

Yes, a fixed dealer ante regardless of the number of players. Everybody pays the same amount per orbit. The reason I'd have the absent dealer post is because I wouldn't want somebody choosing to walk away from the table every time the button approached -- no angle shooting allowed at my game.

My original thought remains. By using blinds for stud you change the chemistry of the game. I may be old fashioned in this regard but I feel that every now and then you should get stuck for 12 bring-ins in a row, and on the rare night never be forced to start it off.

I agree completely. No blinds for stud games.

I happen to think antes and random bring-in is a big part of the game. I'd rather play for a bigger ante regardless.

Agreed!

We're on the same page, HQ.