going from 3 players to two (why is player paying SB two times in a row?)

[Nick C]

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.

[Dave Miller]

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.

[BROOKS]

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)

[Dave Miller]

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.