Recent posts

#61

Poker TDA Rules & Procedures Questions, General / Re: going from 3 players to tw...

Last post by Dave Miller - August 24, 2025, 05:29:35 AM

Brooks -

Thanks for responding, but Rule 34 does not address my question, at all.

Also, I agree with your description of how the blinds and button move when going to heads up.

My question / problem is, there is no official rule nor procedure that illustrates what we already agree upon.

Nor is there a rule that specifies that a player can (or can't) be SB twice in a row.

[B: 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. Starting heads-up play, the button may need to be adjusted to ensure no player has the big blind twice in a row.]

#62

Poker TDA Rules & Procedures Questions, General / Re: going from 3 players to tw...

Last post by BROOKS - August 23, 2025, 05:34:34 AM

It's already covered in rule 34.
I don't think anything needs to be added/changed?

34: Button Placement and Movement
A: If incorrect button movement is discovered before SA occurs, the error will be corrected. However, if SA has occurred, play will continue. Ex: If the button is moved twice and SA occurs the error will stand, the button will not be backed-up on the next hand. All players have a responsibility to monitor button placement and speak up if they see a mistake (Rule 2)
B: 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. Starting heads-up play, the button may need to be adjusted to ensure no player has the big blind twice in a row.


When training dealers, I tell them that when going from 3 to 2 players, the puck always moves forward, except when the puck busts out


Bob Puck
Sam SB
Tom BB

Sam busts, puck moves to Tom
Tom busts, puck moves to Sam
Bob busts, puck moves to Tom (technically backwards - instinct is to move it forward to Sam)

[OR]

#63

Poker TDA Rules & Procedures Questions, General / Re: going from 3 players to tw...

Last post by Dave Miller - July 24, 2025, 06:17:17 PM

Sorry to revive an old tread, but Is there clear verbiage in the TDA Rules that indicate who are the blinds when players are eliminated resulting in head-up play? If not, can we add it?

All I could find in the TDA rules, is that when going to heads-up, a player can't be BB twice. WSOP rules say the same thing. There's nothing in either that says a player can or can't be SB twice.

The TD of a charity poker company that does tournaments for various charities almost every week (sometimes more than one in a weekend), insists that the rule is you can't be BB OR SB twice in a row.

Therefore, when three handed, he says that if the BB is eliminated, the SB can't be SB again so he becomes the BB, while the button becomes the SB.

I've always believed it was just the opposite of what he says. The player to the BB's left (button) becomes the next BB and the other player is the SB & Button.

In fact, over the years, I've written in several posts on these forums without getting corrected, and saw other people's posts saying the same thing, so it would be nice if the rules state it as well.


FYI: I've been an unlicensed dealer in a pub league for about 15 years. No license required since there's no cash involved. I've trained new dealers. I recently got a license to allow me to deal in charity events. Is it SO nice being able to deal, and be able to call the floor rather than settle rules issues myself.

It was at one of those events where I saw it. I was internally losing my mind when it happened.

Thanks.

#64

Poker TDA Rules & Procedures Questions, General / Re: Calling a raise before th...

Last post by Al1_FFPA - July 09, 2025, 08:54:39 AM

For me, C move is OOT as B hasn't finished his play ("raise" with no amount can't be considered as a complete play).

So C should be given hand back "freely" (B final move will be "Raise X" so C is not engaged any more).
So no obligation to call (20000 or any other amount)

But C should also be penalized for playing OOT (and more penalized if he doesn't call a "standard" raise.

#65

Event structuring / Re: How Do You Manage Bounties...

Last post by Al1_FFPA - July 09, 2025, 08:47:09 AM

I've seen this way in tournaments in France :
* Each player is given 2 bounty chips (each has value half of initial bounty value)
* Players MUST let bounty chips visible all the time
* When a player is knocked out, his bounty chips are given to the one who knocked him out, and this one keeps half on chips (rounded up) in his pocket as 'real' winnings and puts the other half with his own bounty chips.

#66

Poker TDA Rules & Procedures Questions, General / Re: Sitting after the first ca...

Last post by Al1_FFPA - July 09, 2025, 08:41:31 AM

I'm ok with the 'technical' official rule, player in B doesn't play this hand and the next one when A has the button and C is the small blind.

But I clearly understand the 'option' to let B come in the game as Big Blind, coming immediately in the game.

#67

Poker TDA Rules & Procedures Questions, General / Re: Sitting after the first ca...

Last post by Nick C - July 02, 2025, 01:53:29 AM

I have had experience in past tournaments when players are eliminated and tables are broken and the best solution is to redraw seating and establish a new draw for the button.  Who gets the blinds after multiple players are eliminated in the same hand, or when players are forced to move to another table.
In these situations, it could be possible that any player might get the BB even though he posted the blind in his last hand.

#68

Non-TDA Tournament and General Poker Rules Discussion / Re: Rule 18

Last post by Dave Miller - July 01, 2025, 02:49:03 AM

I was playing in Vegas last week. On one hand, at the showdown, I made the mistake of showing my hand before the other person, even though they were the aggressor. When they attempted to fold, I asked to see the hand, but then quickly retracted my request.

Although we moved on to the next hand, the floor came over to explain that the rule is really only if collusion is suspected.

FYI. I try to remember to wait for the aggressor to either show their hand or throw it in the muck before showing my own hand. Obviously, emotions got to me on this hand.

#69

Non-TDA Tournament and General Poker Rules Discussion / Re: Rule 18

Last post by BROOKS - June 29, 2025, 07:09:57 PM

I think some people are used to how it was back in the day, where anyone dealt into the hand was able to ask to see any hand that made it to showdown.

But now, you must still have possession of your cards if you want to ask to see a hand

#70

Poker TDA Rules & Procedures Questions, General / Re: Sitting after the first ca...

Last post by BROOKS - June 29, 2025, 06:40:58 PM

Buying the button is only for cash games. If a player is sat between the SB and button they can post both Small and Big and be the button next hand.

That is not an option in tournaments - if you are sat between SB and button you are not dealt in.
In tournaments you 'assume' the position (unless you're balancing)
If a late reg/broken player comes, and it is a dead SB, they sit and become the SB
Same thing if a late reg/broken player comes and its a dead button, they sit and they are the button.

In the scenerio that Guillaume posted - 'technically' the hand has started because the dealer started the pitch, but I would absolutely 100% have the incoming player be the BB.
We penalize players for the exact opposite - dodging blinds. If we didn't have him come in on the BB, not only are we pretty much forcing/encouraging him to dodge the blind, but now he will have to wait several hands before he can play.