Hi! I'm interested in explanations of some 2017 TDA rules. For now, rule 7: "...are dealt in except between the small blind and the button." How is that possible?

That's really poorly written. Considering a poker table is round there's 2 ways to define "between". Putting small blind first in that just makes it even more confusing.

What it should say is that a new player at an existing table will not be dealt in if they are seated to the left of the button and to the right of the small blind. They must wait for the button to pass them to receive their first hand.

This effectively means no free/discounted button for new players--you must pay both blinds to be the actual button.

I'm not so sure that this rule makes my top 10 of poorly written rules, but I'm a 'wordsy' person so any additional clarity 'can' eliminate confusion.

How can this happen? Try these on for size ...

1) A tournament Player is not allowed to 'buy the Button' as they are sometimes allowed to do in a cash game when they post both blinds simultaneously.

2) A Player filling an empty seat may not disrupt the 'natural' progression of the Button or Blinds, but may fill the 'role' of B, SB or BB if that seat was to fill that role based on the previous hand's designations.

3) Unless a Player (or two) that was/were a SB or BB has been eliminated in one of the previous two hands AND tournament staff is on the ball with moving the next Player into that seat quickly, it's pretty difficult to sit down into the position of SB or B.

4) If a seat has been open for some time it is possible to sit down 'between' where the B and SB would be for the next hand. This (obviously) would occur more often the shorter the tables become (6 max), when there are only 2-5 tables remaining in a tournament (for balance) or as seats get filled at the start of or during the re-enter period of a tournament.

This is a lot more than I thought I would put down, but in order to act on this rule you need ...
1) An open seat and a Player ready to fill it ... and
2) The SB and B to be on 'each side' of the open seat for the next hand. GL

Ok, so the scenario is next:
Position 4 is empty
Button is on a position 5
SB is on a position 6
BB is on a positon 7

A player comes in empty position 4, and in that case he is not dealt (that is that between position). He has to wait (let's say there are 5 players) all 5 rounds to play?

Also, right of SB is BB. Did you mean BB by not being dealt right of SB?

Get it now. Thank you.
Regarding the button, in the beginning, when choosing a button position, do I draw 9 cards, as there are 9 chairs a.k.a. positions, or as many cards as there are players (chips) on the table?

?? I don't think I used right or left in my whole post ??

The Button (B) is to the right of the SB, not the Big Blind (BB) ...


As far as establishing the first Button. You only flip cards over for the amount of seats/stacks 'in play' at the time of the first hand. You would never start the Button in an empty seat so there's not need to flip a card for those positions at the table.

If a seat is sold, but no Player is in it for the first hand, they still get cards dealt to it and you would take chips off the stack if they were to be in the SB or BB at the time. GL

Sorry, was talking about dealers view. That way it goes B, SB, BB

Dealer has the same view I do.

grunch

I agree. TDA (TheDefiniteArticle) rules. One of the best posters and poker coaches in the history of 2+2.