[TrivialPiper]

How do the blinds/button move when SB gets knocked out of a tourney? Does former BB now become the dealer and skip the SB? That is how we usually play it, but a new guy to the group tried to have former BB post the SB AND deal from the button, but then couldn't explain how the button/SB would seperate for the next deal..HELP!!

[abby99]

In tournaments, the two most common procedures are known as the moving button and the dead button.

As the name suggests, with the moving button, the button moves to the next player, and the two players to the left of the button post the SB and BB, respectively. In the situation you described, the BB would actually skip a person; the person who was due to be the BB would instead be the SB. This method is used on several online sites.

The dead button method could be thought of as the moving BB method. In the situation you described, the person due to be the BB is the BB, and there is no SB. In the next hand, the blinds move normally, and the button is moved to the vacant seat; hence the term "dead button." As a practical matter, the same person has the button two hands in a row.

All the live games that I play in use the dead button method.

In the moving button method, one person skips the BB. In the dead button method, one person gets the button twice.

[DiceCaller]

Originally Posted by abby99

As the name suggests, with the moving button, the button moves to the next player, and the two players to the left of the button post the SB and BB, respectively. In the situation you described, the BB would actually skip a person; the person who was due to be the BB would instead be the SB. This method is used on several online sites.

We are probably saying the same thing, I will admit that the moving button is much easier to understand when watching then to have someone explain it to you... We call it the "Forward Moving Button" but I am certain it is the same idea, esentially no one gets to have the button twice.
Btn SB BB P P P P P
P X Btn(SB) BB BB P P P
P X P Btn(SB) SB BB P P
P X P P Btn SB BB P
So when the SB is knocked out, on the next hand the Button is also the SB and there are two BB's. The hand after, there are two SB's with the last also having the Button. Then everything is back to normal.

It is very confusing to get used to but it is the most equitable way to handle the situation in a tournament structure.

I hope this helps...
Shane

[wafflestomper]

Yup. Every game I have every played in uses the dead button method.

[abby99]

Originally Posted by DiceCaller

We are probably saying the same thing, I will admit that the moving button is much easier to understand when watching then to have someone explain it to you... We call it the "Forward Moving Button" but I am certain it is the same idea, esentially no one gets to have the button twice.
Btn SB BB P P P P P
P X Btn(SB) BB BB P P P
P X P Btn(SB) SB BB P P
P X P P Btn SB BB P
So when the SB is knocked out, on the next hand the Button is also the SB and there are two BB's. The hand after, there are two SB's with the last also having the Button. Then everything is back to normal.

It is very confusing to get used to but it is the most equitable way to handle the situation in a tournament structure.

I hope this helps...
Shane

This is the method generally used in casino cash games, but before this post I've never seen it used or mentioned in the context of tournaments. As people continue to bust out, it must get extremely complicated. Do you continue using it when you're down to 4-5 players?

[abby99]

Check out HomePokerTourney.com's excellent discussion, complete with diagrams. By far the best explanation I've seen!

linky

[PhilLaFond]

Dead button rule in my home games as well, and most others I play in...

[KingZilla]

Abby's given you the goods with the link provided. I find the dead button method is much easier to work with. With the moving button rule, if one of the blinds busts out a 2nd time, I get totally confused. Dead button for my games, no question. Dead button method: In the scenario in your OP, the button should have stayed on the dealer who just dealt and the former bb is now the sb, next player is the bb. On the next hand the button would move as normal. It's easy to figure, just keep in mind that for each orbit of the button, every player should post a small and a big blind. It makes sense and is only fair. You don't want to let someone play an orbit without posting both a small and a big.

[luckychick]

Once again, abby pwns. Dicecaller's post is very good too.

In most of the casinos I've played at, the blinds are never missed, so there is a moving button for all the cash games. The tournaments are mixed, but usually with a dead button. Quite frankly, it's just a huge quagmire, most of the time.

In all the on line games it's always a dead button for tournaments. It's by far the easiest.

Here's the explanation with pictures!

Home Poker Tourney - Poker dealer button rules and help

[Freelancer72]

been dealing with the moving button rule for 10 years, and i'm so used to it i prefer it. once or twice a night i get players who are completely confused by it, and i just say everyone has to pay both blinds every orbit, and everyone gets the dealer button once an orbit.

there's 2 things inevitable in life: death, and the blinds.