You know how when you come from a must move to the main table, you don't have to post, and also have the option to wait until after the button, so you can get a free round? Well, can/should you be able to get your first free hand BEFORE the button, between the button and the small blind?

Given that when first entering a game, posting the BB before the button is an option, and the SB and BB remain the same, and that the button passes the posting player after that hand, should you also be allowed to have the same option to come in that position when coming into a main game?

In places I have played or dealt that required posting a new player would not be able to post only a BB between the Button and the Small to come in in that position. (Nor can I imagine why they would want too) but in fairness most of my experience is in non posting games.

That being said i wouldn't be bothered by allowing the player in your hypothetical to have that free hand ..... But the argument against is ....

The reason a player doesn't have to post when moved to the main game is that the player posted in the must move game and we don't want to make him not get his full round of hands for that post. That being said most of the time the player ends up getting extra free hands, there is no reason to find a way to give him even more free hands.

I get what you are saying, but the fact that the hand is free is irrelevant, imo.

When first coming into a posting game and the button is directly to my right, I have 3 options: buy, post in front, and post behind.

In this case, I am just trying to apply the same logic. If I move to the main table and the button is immediately to my right, should I still not have the same (modified) options? Of course, I can buy, if I want the privilege of getting the button, but if I don't have to post after, why can't I not post before?

When do you act pre-flop?

First? You are the first player without any money posted.

After the Button?

I guess I would act after the button and before SB, and I would have all the options that I normally would if I came in for free after the button.

In a situation where I would either post before or after the button, I'm still posting a live BB. In a behind for free situation, I have a free option either way, I would contend.

Are you saying that it would be weird to have an option with no money posted after the button asks?

This is why you can't.

What Suit said. If you act after the button, then you are essentially getting the button PF without having to post/straddle anything. That can't be allowed.

I suppose the case could be made that you would act first, then it would skip SB and BB and go around to UTG, but that is just creating problems. Better just to disallow it.

(Worth noting that allowing players to post in between is the exception rather than the rule in most rooms anyway.)