04-15-07, LearnTexasHoldem:

What Happens to the Button When Someone Gets Knocked Out?

Question:

I have a question. I was at the final table once. There were 4 people left on the hand after the dealer got knocked out. I was to next in line to deal. The person to the left of me grabbed the cards and said that it was his turn to deal. Needless to say the blinds were very high. Was it my turn to deal? Was it my turn to be small blind? A TD who does not like me for some reason, said I was big blind alone, and the blinds had gone up at that exact point. 3 people were left at the table at that point. It cost me the game. Could you please tell me all conditions and rules on when someone is knocked out at the table, and how that situation affects who deals? I am sure the person to the left of me was not the dealer! Please advice.

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Answer:

Hi Martha

You are absolutely right. It was your turn to deal and the player on your left should have posted the small blind and the next player should have put in the big blind. Why on earth should the dealer button jump to the player on your left? That would result in you paying blinds three hands in a row, which isn't correct for obvious reasons. The player on your left would dodge a small blind, and the next player would only pay a small blind this round. One could say that you have to pay the other players' compulsory bets, something you don't want to do. Your opponents are just making a simple situation complicated by tossing the button around.

When a player gets knocked out, don't focus on the button. What's important is that all players pay their blinds. If the player on your left, i.e. the big blind, got knocked out instead of the dealer, there would only be a big blind in the next hand since you already posted the small blind and can't be forced to do it again. If that's the case, the dealer button stays for one more hand and player 3 posts big blind. The forthcoming hand you become the dealer and the game can go on as usual.

Maybe the "TD" mixed up these situations, but probably he just wanted to avoid paying big blind.

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