Hi,

Say there are 4 players in a hand and after the flop I’m on the button. Then small blind bets and everyone else calls. Do you think I need to calculate their bets into the pot size? For an instance, pot size $7, 1pl bet $3, 2pl call $3, and 3pl call $3. If in case I have 19% to hit my flush, do you think I have to add up the pot size with the bets behind me to calculate pot odds? If so, will it be 7 + 3 / 3 = 3/10 =30%? How about 16+3/3=3/19 = 15.7%? Your thoughts please.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Many thanks,
Victor
Victor,

You need to include all the money in the pot from all players to calculate your pot odds. It would be Size of Pot/Your call=Percentage of pot. In your case 16/3=.1875 or 18.75%. You can round this up to 19% if you so desire. You have the exact minimum you need to call this bet.

Related articles:

1. With Implied Odds
2. How to Calculate Poker Odds
3. What’s Next After Knowing the Odds?

Hello,

Can you please define early, middle and late position in contrast with the number of players at a certain table?

I’ll be glad to hear from you.

Many thanks,
Matt
Matt,

In a nine handed table, the small blind, big blind, and under the gun players are early position. The next three players are middle position. The last three players, which includes the button, is late position.

Related articles:

1. High Cards in Early Position
2. About the Blinds
3. When Down to the Last Two Players

Hi,

I have two questions to ask. Please bear with me.

1. In texas holdem, when it goes to heads up I normally think that the small blind is on the button as opposed to the left. Am I right on this? If yes, why do I think like this?
2. I remember there were two commentators in the TV WPT screenings. They were in the same room that doesn’t seemed to have any sound-proofing or what so I was curious then why players can’t hear them. Your thoughts?

Thanks and more power!

Vic
Vic,

1. There are only two players. As a result the small blind is on the button and the big blind on the other player.
   
2. The two commentators were not in the same general area. They were far enough away so that the players cannot hear them. In some instances, they really aren’t in the same room. They just make it appear that they are.

Related articles:

1. On Heads Up Play
2. Various Questions
3. Moving In to Another Table

Hello,

Once you’ve said that in the event a player is busted out, the big blind going out should have a small blind on the button then followed by two big blinds in the next hand and a small blind on the button with a regular small and big blind on the hand after which. But I want to know if in the first hand after the bust out, will the player on button have to post two small blinds in a row?

What do you think?

Also, the new dealer is the one busted out by the big blind, it’s the small blind right?

Many thanks,
Alexis
Alexis,

A if a new player takes the spot that is supposed to be the small blind, then they must post the small blind.

Related articles:

1. About the Blinds
2. Possible Difficulties
3. On Blind Rules

Hello,

Say a person is the next blind however is busted out immediately on the earlier hand, how will you assign then the small/big blind? For an instance, in the present hand, small blind is suddenly out then the deal goes to the player who paid the big blind, who no longer has the small blind position, who will put up the small or big blinds?

In smaller tables, things are more different. In an event with 4 players for the pot, big blind was busted out in an instant and so I was lead then to the small blind position for the following hand. Others at the table said I should put up both blinds, in addition to the present big blind position. What do you think?

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Matt
Matt,

The easy way to remember is this. If the big blind for the next hand busts out the prior hand, then the person that was supposed to be the small blind remains the small blind and the big blind moves to the next player after the busted player. In a situation where the person that was supposed to be the small blind busts out the prior hand, there will be no small blind the next hand and just the big blind. If the person that was supposed to be the dealer busts out the prior hand, the button freezes and the blinds go to the people that are supposed to post the blinds.

Related articles:

1. When Someone’s Busted Out
2. Possible Difficulties
3. On Blind Rules

Hi,

I know in NL tourneys that when you are moved from one table to another, you can’t then play small blind or play when you sit in on the button. But I don’t know how this one will work when you sit out hand on the small blind and then deal proceeds to the player on your left. Any thoughts on this? Do you have to sit out another hand or get dealt in?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Many thanks,
John Wales
John,

You cannot be moved to a new table in a tournament between the big blind and the button. If you are moved into the small blind position, you must wait 2 hands until the button passes you before you get a hand.

Related articles:

1. Regarding Our Set Up
2. Moving a Player From One Table to Another
3. Various Questions

Hi,

I’ve been into poker for more or less six months now. I love playing with some of my friends. Normally, we are into home tournaments with around 18-20 players.

Well, we haven’t encountered yet a very serious problem. There’s just one issue we can’t resolve. Well, we typically rotate the deal by player. Little blind to the left of the dealer or button and the big blind to the left of the little blind.

Now we want to know why we are always into something when a player or players get knocked out of the game and the new dealer has not paid a blind because of the deal landing on them. Personally, I know a player should not skip the big blind. What do you think? In case it’s true, does it mean dealer should pay a blind and deal? How about multiple options?

Thank you so much for your time and creating a site like this! You’ve done a great job!

Best regards,
Steele
Steele,

A player that is moved to a table may assume any position at the table without penalty. If they are moved into the small or big blind, they must post the bet. If the dealer button is dead or frozen and they move into that spot, then they may play without posting a blind. The only time they may not receive a hand is a spot where they come into the game in a spot between the small blind and the button. They must wait a hand until the button moves to the small blind and then they may play.

Related articles:

1. Who Should Be the Next Dealer?
2. Moving In to Another Table
3. Rule on Governing Blinds

Hello,

Just one question. In case you are down to the last two players, who is the small blind and who is the big blind? I’m just new to poker so I don’t have an idea.

Thanks in advance!

All the best,
Rhyner
Rhyner,

When play is heads up, the dealer is the small blind and the other player the big blind. Preflop, the dealer button will act first. For the rest of the hand, the button will act last.

Related articles:

1. Various Questions
2. Regarding Our Set Up
3. Who Should Be the Next Dealer?

Hi,

What if the table is finally down to two players, who will be dealt first? Will it be the button? If so, why? And in the event the tournament is down to the final two players, who will be in the big blind? Will it be the dealer or the non-dealer?

By the way, what’s the order of play pre-flop and post-flop? Any idea?

Thank you in advance!

Regards,
Holcombe
Holcombe,

The player not holding the button is dealt first. The player holding the button will be the small blind and the other player the big blind. Preflop, the dealer button will actually act first in heads-up play. For the rest of the hand, the button will act last.

Related articles:

1. When Down to the Last Two Players
2. Regarding Our Set Up
3. Who Should Be the Next Dealer?

Hello,

Is there any rule governing blinds in a situation like there are eight players in the final table and one player is knocked out and the player to his left is the big blind and will be the small blind and in next hand the big blind again?

Thank you very much!

Ron Drever
Ron,

In a situation where the player that is the big blind is eliminated in a hand, the next hand there will not be a small blind. If the player would have been under the gun, the big blind would have moved one spot. If he was the small blind, then the button freezes for one hand in the spot it was previously.

Related articles:

1. About the Blinds
2. Regarding Our Set Up
3. When Someone’s Busted Out

Hello,

I’ve been into poker just this year. I guess I’ve been playing for just about 7 months now. Well, as of the moment, I’m more into no limit, mainly online. At times, I also play at the casinos.

Just recently, I was in an online no limit sit and go tourney. A certain hand came up and I think I have misplayed it.

I remember the tourney started with 10 players and with 1500 starting chip amount. Blinds were 10/20 at the beginning but then moved up later. After more than 20 minutes of play, tourney-blinds were 25/50 with 9 players.

At some point, I was in the small blind and was dealt K K, club and diamond. My stack was around $1900. There were three players who limped in, including the button who was the chip leader with around $3,500. He was actually playing aggressive on the post flop, normal preflop.

Later, I raised to four times the blind, thus masking it $200 to go. Flop then came and brought 9 which was a diamond, 7 another diamond, and 5 a heart. Afterwards, I placed $400 bet with a desire to take home the pot with a flush or straight draw on the board. After a while, button re-raised me to $800 and so I place him on one of these hands: nut flush draw (A-x diamonds), top pair strong kicker (A-9), a set (9s, 7,s or 5,s), and straight draw (JT).

I had so many things in mind then but later I chose to go all in. He then flipped over 8 which was a club and 6 which was a spades. Well, turn and river didn’t gave anything good so I was busted out.

Honestly, every time I remember such tourney I don’t feel really bad. However, what if I folded and picked my battles with the other more predictable tight players, could the results have been much better for me? What’s on your thoughts?

Thanks!

Regards,
Carron
Carron,

You pretty much got unlucky in my opinion.

Related articles:

1. Played With Weakness
2. When Someone’s Busted Out
3. About the Blinds

Hi,

I’m into N/L tournaments with regular schedule 3 times a week. The tournaments are held just near my place. Well, we have a solid player who is known for being one of the best local players. He loves visiting Vegas 3-4 times every year and he runs the said NL tournaments.

Just the other week, I was able to play with the guy I’m talking about. I remember I was the button and he was the small blind. There was another player in the hand and I believe he was the big blind then. I had A9 off-suit and an A flopped. For some reasons, nobody folded. Turn came and was an A. Few seconds passed and they both checked. I placed a bet while he folded (I’m referring to the small blind here). Big blind on the other side called. River came and brought 5. I then made a reasonable, min bet to the big blind. This was actually right after he checked. For three times my bet, he then re-raised me. I called and afterwards waited big blind to flipped his cards over. After few seconds, he showed AJ. I knew then that I lost and so just threw my cards into the muck so that small blind won’t have any idea what my cards were. However, before the next shuffler totally had my cards, small blind said he wanted to see all what I’ve thrown. I fought out that what he wanted was not possible but he insisted that in Vegas seeing mucked cards is possible.

Because the big blind was first in line and was the first one to show, I knew then I don’t have to show my cards. However, he really insisted and then suddenly turned my cards up. Well, I knew then that he got some infos from my cards.

As of now, I’m thinking of the online poker sites that allow any player in the game to see mucked cards after the showdown is complete and cards get mucked that were still in play in the event showdown has taken place. Can you please explain to me what’s going on?

I remember small blind admitted that the infos he got really helped him. Also, he said many players don’t know that they can actually do the same thing, see the mucked cards. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks and great site!

All the best,

Smith
Smith,

Since he called your bet, he has the right to see your cards. When players go to the river and a bet is called, the players at showdown have the right to see the other player’s cards. If you muck, they can request the dealer show the cards and the dealer must show. Your opponent was perfectly within his rights. He paid for the right. If you went to see a movie and paid to see the movie, you would expect to be allowed to see the movie right?

Related articles:

1. Revealing Lost Hand
2. Rule on Cards Touching the Muck
3. Reshuffle or Not

Hi,

There were 4 remaining players on the hand in a certain event. Dealer was knocked out first. Supposedly, I’m the next dealer then however one guy claimed that it should be his turn to deal. By the way, blinds were very high then.

Do you think it was my turn to deal or it was actually my turn to be the small blind instead? Another guy came in and said I was big blind alone and the blinds had gone up at that very moment. Anyway, three players were left at the table. Please kindly tell me everything you know about the conditions and rules related to situations where in someone is knocked out at the table. I need your help!

Thank you very much!

Warm regards,
Foster
Foster,

If you would have been in the big blind instead of the small blind, there would have been a dead button and you would have been small blind. If you were under the gun in that hand instead of the small blind, then your friend would have been correct.

Related articles:

1. Regarding Our Set Up
2. About the Blinds
3. Rule on Governing Blinds

Hi,

There are two hands I can’t forget. In a $2.5/5 NL holdem, I raised on the button to $20 with A-J. I had three callers, thus making it a multi-way pot. Flop came and brought Q-Q-3. Everybody then checked to me. For some reasons, I then placed $24 bet. The player whom I called “LaBarca” called, everyone else folded. Turn came and brought a K. He then checked. I felt weakness and so wanted to grab the opportunity to win the pot. Later, I placed $40 bet and so he called though with some doubts. By the way, I’m not fond of bluffing.

I remember I already had the T for a straight and an A or a J for a probable winning pair. River came however was a blank and so he checked again. At such point, I started questioning myself, “do I have the heart to fire the third bullet when I really feel it’s the right thing to do?”. After few seconds, I placed another bet, at such point, $80. “LaBarca” called once again.

Finally, showdown came. My opponent flipped A-8 off for no hand and no draw but Ace high and so we just end up dividing the pot with the Q’s and the K being in there.

Now, I don’t know what went wrong. I don’t believe I have expected much. What do you think?

About the next hand I had, A-4 of hearts. Suddenly I limped behind another limper with it. BB and the player on button limp as well while SB folded. We then had the flop four handed, 8-6-3 all hearts.

Eventually, first limper checked while I placed $10 bet. Player on button called while the first limper re-raised to $20. I then called. Player on button re-raised once again to $56 while limper called. I started to think as player on button has flopped a flush as well and the limper has either a set or two pair. Finally, turn came and was a 9c. Limper checked and I followed. For $418, player on button went all in while for approximately $300, limper called all-in.

Later, player on button flipped over Q-9 of hearts for a flush while the limper, 3-3 for a set of 3′s.

So what do you think on how I played the second hand? Well, in general, I have no regrets. Same thing with how I played the first hand. I believe as a student I’ve learned my lesson and has applied each lesson learned so well.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks and nice site!

Antone
Antone,

In regards to the second hand, you played that fantastically. You got to see a flop for cheap and flopped the nuts. You then had two players that were aggressive and were able to take the stacks of both players. The only thing I would recommend doing differently is checking on the flop when you flop the nuts. Let the aggressive player control the betting. While this didn’t matter in the end for this situation, in the future let the aggressive player control the betting. You will usually make more money that way.

Related articles:

1. Played With Weakness
2. With Losing Hands
3. How Do You Find My Play?