Quote:
Originally Posted by cowboy.up
Maybe a newb question, but what is a traveling button?
Traveling button is also known as the California Blind Rule.
The following was copied from the Pennsylvania Poker Players Blog:
The traveling button rule is a variation of the California Blind Rule, which is an old style of posting blinds in poker. The California Blind rules state that the dealer (button), the small blind (or middle blind), and big blind will post blinds. The button blind is equal to the small blind and the big blind is double that of the smaller blinds.
The California Blind rule was originally used in smaller casinos and poker rooms to encourage action, build a pot, and ensure a minimum pot to facilitate a rake for the house. Although most poker rooms use blind parity (dead button) there are still casinos using the Traveling button concept.
The traveling button is never used in tournament play, as it is primarily a cash game house rule. Many players at first find the traveling button confusing, however, it actually is quite an easy to understand concept and should pose no problem for any experienced poker player.Traveling button in poker
The best way to explain how the traveling button works is to give the following example of play. A player who would be on the button in the next hand gets up from the table. The button then must move to an active player at the table, which would be the next player to the left, in this case, the small blind. The small blind although he is now the button must still post his blind.
The player immediately to his left would post his big blind and the player to the left of the big blind will post a big blind as well. In this case, there are two big blinds and one small blind on the button. The rules of the traveling button dictate that there must always be three blinds in the event the small blind or button were to leave the game prior to their posting and receiving cards.
In the event the small blind leaves the game, the button then would remain in place while the big blind must post his blind, the player to his left must also post a big blind. At the next hand, the button would proceed to the next player on the left who posts his small blind (on the button) while the previous big blind player posts a small and the next player then posts a big blind. In this case, you have two small blinds and one big blind. The subsequent hand the button becomes normalized as there would only be one small and one big blind.
A simple way to remember, is that there can never be a dead button in a traveling button poker game, and that even though everyone will eventually post a big and small blind, nobody actually posts any more than normal. If you want to be kind to your players at a poker room that uses the traveling button, avoid getting up from the table on your button or small blind. It is more advantageous and courteous to get up on your big blind.