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POKER TOURNAMENT RULES QUESTIONS & DISCUSSIONS => Poker TDA Rules & Procedures Questions, General => Topic started by: VeloPR27 on January 20, 2018, 09:14:57 AM

Title: going from 3 players to two (why is player paying SB two times in a row?)
Post by: VeloPR27 on January 20, 2018, 09:14:57 AM
2 questions on dead button / blind movement when going from 3 players to two.

1.  Alice on button, Bob SB, Carol BB.  Alice on the button is eliminated.  So BB travels to Bob, Carol becomes the SB and the button.  I understand this as BB must move, though creates inequity in that  Bob has to act first post-flop two hands in a row.  But, this is the correct button movement and blinds I am quite sure.

But, I am less sure of the rationale for the situation when:

2. Alice on button, Bob on SB, Carol BB.  Carol in BB is eliminated.  So, my understanding is that BB moves to Alice and Bob is small blind (again) and the button.

Question I have is why isn't there no small blind in this situation.  That is, Alice becomes BB as she would if Carol had not been eliminated, but Bob would be the Button, and there would be no small blind (position that Carol was in would have been SB, but was eliminated). 

If more players are in a hand when the BB is eliminated there is no subsequent SB, so why would it be different when you are going from 3 players to 2. (unless TDA has rule that SB would be payed twice in multiple player action as well, and would be small blind and button, which I don't think is the case but I can't find it in the rules.

thanks,



Title: Re: going from 3 players to two (why is player paying SB two times in a row?)
Post by: BillM16 on January 20, 2018, 10:24:21 AM
Hey Velo,

Welcome to the forum.

I have often found that TDA Rules do not include details that a majority of members consider to be common knowledge.  These include many of the details found in other references, such as Robert's Rules of Poker version 11 (http://www.homepokertourney.com/roberts-rules-of-poker.htm).

RRoP v11 Rule #31

"In heads-up play with two blinds, the small blind is on the button. When play becomes heads-up, the player who had the big blind the most recently is given the button, and his opponent is given the big blind."

As you can see, in RRoP it is very clear that when heads-up both the SB and BB are always paid and that the Button is always moved to the player who most recently paid the BB.

Alice is button, Bob SB, Carol BB.
          Carol was BB most recently.  Carol is given the button. Carol is SB. Bob is BB. 
          Carol was BB most recently.  Carol is given the button. Carol is SB. Alice is BB.
          Bob was BB most recently.  Bob is given the button. Bob is SB. Alice is BB.


The rationale:  In poker, position has value but chips have more value.

Regards,
B~
Title: Re: going from 3 players to two (why is player paying SB two times in a row?)
Post by: VeloPR27 on January 21, 2018, 09:19:30 PM
appreciate the confirmation.

I find it still odd that TDA wouldn't be very specific in their own rules that address this.  Many well established rules are reiterated in TDA and it seems odd to refer to another set of rules as the "back up" for what TDA does not address.  Are we using TDA or are we using Robert's Rules (because Robert's has at least a few items that conflict with TDA)?.  Doesn't feel like a poker room should pick and choose rules and the TDA rules should address all situations.

I still am not clear about why there would not be an absent small blind when the BB is eliminated when going from 3 to 2.

I am pretty sure in a tournament that when there are 4 or more players and BB is eliminated that no one assumes the small blind on the next hand (you don't make the previous small blind repeat a small blind - he just becomes the button and there is no small blind, then there is a dead button on the next hand).  So, why then when you move from 4 players in a tourney to 3 players and someone is eliminated does the player who had the small blind have to repeat the small blind when the BB is eliminated?

Just seems inconsistent

thx
Title: Re: going from 3 players to two (why is player paying SB two times in a row?)
Post by: BillM16 on January 22, 2018, 10:07:28 AM

I still am not clear about why there would not be an absent small blind when the BB is eliminated when going from 3 to 2.

I am pretty sure in a tournament that when there are 4 or more players and BB is eliminated that no one assumes the small blind on the next hand (you don't make the previous small blind repeat a small blind - he just becomes the button and there is no small blind, then there is a dead button on the next hand).  So, why then when you move from 4 players in a tourney to 3 players and someone is eliminated does the player who had the small blind have to repeat the small blind when the BB is eliminated?

Just seems inconsistent


Indeed, when playing heads-up or not, posting or skipping the SB when the BB is eliminated, can seem to be inconsistent.  However, referencing more from RRoP:


--- excerpts from RRoP v11 ---

SECTION 4 - BUTTON AND BLIND USE

RULES FOR USING BLINDS
1. (deleted)

2.   Each round every player must get an opportunity for the button, and meet the total amount of the blind obligations. Either of the following methods of button and blind placement may be designated to do this:
(a) Moving button – The button always moves forward to the next player and the blinds adjust accordingly. There may be more than one big blind.
(b) Dead button – The big blind is posted by the player due for it, and the small blind and button are positioned accordingly, even if this means the small blind or the button is placed in front of an empty seat, giving the same player the privilege of last action on consecutive hands. [See “Section 16 – Explanations,” discussion #1, for more information on this rule.]
3.    In heads-up play with two blinds, the small blind is on the button. When play becomes heads-up, the player who had the big blind the most recently is given the button, and his opponent is given the big blind.

--- end excerpts ---


TDA rules use a Dead Button. The beginning of heads-up play starts a new round and the button is given to the person who last posted the BB.  RRoP says, Each round every player must get an opportunity for the button, and meet the total amount of the blind obligations.  Consequently, both players are obligated to pay a blind while heads-up.  When not heads-up, players can still meet the obligation to pay the blinds in each round even though the BB has been eliminated.  Under no circumstance is a tournament player allowed to skip their obligation to pay a blind whether or not they are present at the table.

Regards,
B~
Title: Re: going from 3 players to two (why is player paying SB two times in a row?)
Post by: Nick C on January 22, 2018, 05:25:20 PM
I agree with Bill 100%. One of the issues with Robert's Rules is that it is used primarily for cash games. There was a time when the TDA preferred little discussion about "cash" games. Until all areas of poker are covered by the TDA we will continue to turn to Robert's Rules. If I may add some food for thought on the head to head ruling for tournaments: I believe that using a "dead small" after the BB is eliminated on the previous hand creates an unfavorable advantage where the Button would maintain the button position two hands in a row.
 I remember years ago, walking into a casino hosting a hold'em tournament and every time the table got down to two remaining players they did it wrong. I corrected them but it's easy to understand how confusing the rules can be.

 You might note (two remaining players) the first card dealt will go to the BB...That too is confusing.
Title: Re: going from 3 players to two (why is player paying SB two times in a row?)
Post by: Dave Miller on February 05, 2018, 08:29:10 PM
 I have been thinking about this. The reason for doing it this way, is tradition.

 But if you're going to question this rule, you probably should also ask yourself why the tournament doesn’t start without a small blind on the first hand.
Title: Re: going from 3 players to two (why is player paying SB two times in a row?)
Post by: WSOPMcGee on April 28, 2018, 02:11:01 PM
In simpler terms then RRoP; A player may not be the BB twice (two hands in succession).
Title: Re: going from 3 players to two (why is player paying SB two times in a row?)
Post by: BillM16 on April 29, 2018, 08:09:22 AM
You might note (two remaining players) the first card dealt will go to the BB...That too is confusing.

This is why TDA Rule #34: Button in Heads-Up says:

Heads-up, the small blind is the button, is dealt the last card, and acts first pre-flop and last on all other betting rounds.

This, of course, makes perfect sense as the button is always dealt the last card.  Given, there are only two players, the other guy has to get the first card. (An exception may occur when a previous player's hole card has been exposed during the initial deal.)
Title: Re: going from 3 players to two (why is player paying SB two times in a row?)
Post by: BillM16 on April 29, 2018, 08:17:45 AM
In simpler terms then RRoP; A player may not be the BB twice (two hands in succession).

And more accurately:

A player may not be the BB twice (two hands in succession) and the BB is never the button.

However, this doesn't cover the situation where:

Scenario #1

Alice, Bob, Carl, and Dave bust out, leaving Eric and Fran heads-up. Now, you need the more complete rules.

The Button and SB moves to Fran as she was the BB most recently.  Eric is BB, is dealt first, and acts last pre-flop.  As always, the Button acts last post-flop. And, acts first when heads-up pre-flop.

So:

This is also why I think TDA Rule #34 needs improvement.  It says:
Starting heads-up play, the button may need to be adjusted to ensure no player has the big blind twice in a row.

I prefer the RRoP wording.

Scenario #2
The confusion stems from the fact that the Button usually moves forward to the next player.  In the above, the Button would typically move to Bob.  However, when Alice busts out leaving Bob and Carl heads-up, the Button cannot move to Bob as that would make Carl BB twice.

So, which wording is more clear?

    The button may need to be adjusted to ensure no player has the big blind twice in a row.
                                  — or —
    The button goes to the player who paid the BB most recently.

Reconsider the first scenario above where Fran becomes the Button.  It had nothing to do with ensuring that no player has the BB twice in a row.

Ignore the following bug in SMF: [/list][/list][/list][/list][/list]
Title: Re: going from 3 players to two (why is player paying SB two times in a row?)
Post by: WSOPMcGee on April 30, 2018, 01:28:34 AM
Bill,


Everything you laid out is unnecessary. No matter how many players are eliminated in any particular hand which results in heads-up play, the BB advances to the next player in turn, so long as they were not the BB the previous hand. In your Scenario #1, you're pointing out the obvious and not because Fran was the most recent BB. Eric is the BB because he's next in turn. By default, the Button backs up to Fran.


No need to over complicate things by extensive wording. That's already been done by MikeB with the chip manipulation rule. It needs to be reworded completely and renamed to the Chips Speak rule. But that's another topic.
Title: Re: going from 3 players to two (why is player paying SB two times in a row?)
Post by: BillM16 on May 01, 2018, 09:32:09 AM
Thomas,

Perhaps this will make my point more clearly.


| Alice| Bob| Chris| Deb|   Eric    |
|    B    |   SB   |   BB  | UTG  | UTG+1 |

| BB | B-SB  |-------| -------|-------|
| BB |-------| B-SB  |-------|-------|
| B-SB  |-------|-------|  BB  |-------|
| B-SB  |-------|-------|-------|  BB   |
|-------|  BB  | B-SB  |-------|-------|
|-------| B-SB  |-------|  BB  |-------|
|-------| B-SB  |-------|-------|  BB   |
|-------|-------| B-SB  |  BB  |-------|
|-------|-------| B-SB  |-------|  BB   |
|-------|-------|-------|  BB  | B-SB |



Of course, in all cases the button moved to the player who paid the BB most recently.  But, the button is adjusted in cases other than prevention of paying BB twice in a row.

Deb cannot become button in this scenario as it is her natural turn to pay the BB.  All other players can become button under the correct circumstance.  That circumstance is stated correctly in RRoP, not in the TDA.
Title: Re: going from 3 players to two (why is player paying SB two times in a row?)
Post by: Dave Miller on May 01, 2018, 01:20:40 PM
Nice use of color, but the rules can be stated more simply:


Regardless of how many people got knocked out, or what positions the survivors were in, once two players remain:

A - The next remaining player clockwise from the prior BB becomes BB. I.E. The same person who would be BB if there were more than 2 players remaining.

B - The other player is SB and Button.


And if anybody cares to know why, it's so that in an unraised put, the BB acts last pre-flop and the button acts last post-flop. I.E. The same as when there are more than 2 players remaining.
Title: Re: going from 3 players to two (why is player paying SB two times in a row?)
Post by: GreggPath on May 01, 2018, 01:51:40 PM
Nice use of color, but the rules can be stated more simply:


Regardless of how many people got knocked out, or what positions the survivors were in, once two players remain:

A - The next remaining player clockwise from the prior BB becomes BB. I.E. The same person who would be BB if there were more than 2 players remaining.

B - The other player is SB and Button.


And if anybody cares to know why, it's so that in an unraised put, the BB acts last pre-flop and the button acts last post-flop. I.E. The same as when there are more than 2 players remaining.

I used to be confused by the blinds head's up... I looked at it from the deal's point of view... with more than 2 players, you always deal to the small blind first, so I always thought it should be the same head's up. I now understand and agree with the rule. I also agree with Dave's wording. Could also simply say, "For the first hand head's up, the button and SB will be given to the player who most recently was BB".
Title: Re: going from 3 players to two (why is player paying SB two times in a row?)
Post by: BillM16 on May 01, 2018, 05:49:18 PM
Regarding heads-up movement of buttons and blinds, the following sets are transitive equalities:

Set A:
Set B:
Set C:

A=B, and B=C, so A=C.

To me, the first set of statements are more clear.  If you disagree, then I agree to disagree.
Title: Re: going from 3 players to two (why is player paying SB two times in a row?)
Post by: BillM16 on May 01, 2018, 06:00:21 PM
No matter how many players are eliminated in any particular hand which results in heads-up play, the BB advances to the next player in turn, so long as they were not the BB the previous hand.

How is that possible?  If the BB was previously paid by player A, how can it possibly advance to player A if there is a player B?

Again, the problem arises when typical button movement fails in heads-up situations.  The BB twice problem only occurs after the button is incorrectly moved.  The button is sometimes adjusted when first heads-up.  Thus, describing the solution in terms of button movement makes more sense.  Dealers are responsible for moving buttons correctly.  Players expect the button to moved correctly before posting blinds.  TDA Rule #34 is appropriately titled Button in Heads-up, not BB in heads-up.
Title: Re: going from 3 players to two (why is player paying SB two times in a row?)
Post by: Nick C on May 01, 2018, 10:58:06 PM
Wow...I might be wrong on this one but I don't remember it being this complicated. I will only refer to a three-handed game after one player is eliminated.

Alice Button...Bob SB...Carol BB...If either Alice or Bob gets eliminated the Button goes to Carol. If Carol gets eliminated the Button will advance to Bob. It does give Bob the SB twice but Alice would have been the BB on the next hand if Carol were not eliminated. I could be wrong but I think it's that simple.