Heads up dealer button

[Burgers]

I've been reading up on the movement of the dealer button, and man am I confused!! (and yeah have some spare time on my hands)

The simplistic approach is that it follows the blinds around the table.

On many poker websites, they argue that this is not the case. In particular because it gives certain players additional shots at being last to act when there are dead dealers etc. (ie the last dealer gets to effectively be dealer twice).

For example http://www.learn-texas-holdem.com/quest ... st-out.htm

This website (and yes I know it's not the authority on poker - but an interesting viewpoint) talks about the importance of positions being summarised in this priority:-
1) Big blind goes around fairly
2) Dealer button goes around so players dont get additional shots to act last
3) Small blinds make up the gap where they can.

I'll sit on the fence with the above, but what makes it interesting is that instead of getting a dead dealer - its sits on the next small blind. This way the former dealer doesnt get to act last twice. I guess in many ways it's what heads up does anyway. It's an interesting alternate view.

And then I read the interpretations of the rules on transition from three players to heads up play when the dealer busts out.

-3 player seating:
Dealer / Small / Big.

-Dealer gets knocked out.

-2 player seating:
Big (next in turn for big) + Dealer (second priority is the button)/ small

-next 2 player hand:
Small Dealer/ Big.

I don't necessarily agree with it, and by now your thinking what the crapola am I talking about?!

If you are bored check out the site - I'd like to know your opinion

[Brett Kay]

This is a good topic.

When play goes from 3 players to heads up, the dealer button does a little bit of a shimmy. It may sound a bit dodgy but there is some merit to the reasoning behind it.

So we have our three players (using previous example).

Dealer, Small Blind and Big Blind.

Dealer is Knocked out in Hand 1.

Small Blind Becomes dealer, and Big Big blind becomes small blind.
Where is the big blind? Well naturally as the small blind is the dealer. And there is only a small blind on the table, and big blind from previous hand can't post big blind twice. We turn it around.

So Dealer (formerly SB) punts the dealer button to the small blind (ex bb) And Dealer Now posts BB (former dealer, Ex sb).

Everyone is happy.

Pretty much, Small blind becomes the big blind. And big blind, becomes small blind and Dealer.

Now if Small blinds gets knocked out.
Dealer and Big Blind are left.
Dealer becomes big blind as standard.
Big Blind Becomes small blind as standard.
But Dealer button goes to deal status, meaning first card goes to small blind.

This is where position comes into it. Pre flop, Small blind calls, Big blind checks. Post Flop, small blind acts first. And in effect this gives the Old dealer, two shots at having position on the big blind.

To even this out and to keep things fair, the dealer button instead of being dead, moves forward onto the small blind so that fairness is maintained. That is that the small blind acts first preflop, and last post flop.

So main rules. When you get to heads up play. There is always a dealer button who is the small blind and a big blind. How you work it out is to see who paid what the previous hand and see what they would be paying next hand and move everything accordingly.

Small blind/dealer acts first preflop and last Post flop.

Brett