POLL. Dealer Buttons? Yes or No? (1 Viewer)

[Trihonda]

I attended a recent meetip, and noted some sharp divides on dealer button preference.

For the purpose of this discussion, we are assuming SELF Dealt games. A dedicated dealer makes a button imparitive.

At this meetup, There were those who insisted on having a button, explaining it made it easier to determine the dealer and improved game flow. There were those who balked at the use of a button, claiming it’s just as easy to determine the dealer by the deck in their hand it, and that since the button often does not get passed, it creates potential confusion, and is just one more task to do each hand (moving the button).

I suspect people’s responses will be based on what they are accustomed to. If you are used to it, it becomes essential. You look for it. ...if people don’t normally use a button, they rely on other factors to determine the dealer... they pay attention, or look at who is shuffling or has the current deck in front of them.

Full disclosure, I don’t use a dealer button in my games, and have no problem knowing the table positions at any given moment. I’m not used to using a button, or looking for it. I don’t miss it. When I get players that are used to it, and insist that we MUST have a button, I’m happy to oblige. But I’ve noticed it never seems to get passed correctly for more than an orbit, and many times the requester is guilty of not passing it as well... further full disclosure, I collect dealer buttons. I think they’re cool, and I have a huge supply just in case a guest wants to use one, or we have a dedicated dealer.

That all said, I’m not opposed to looking for improvements. Am I wrong? Could I be missing out on making my game run more smoothly? Should I be using a button? I figured a poll and discussion might be helpful (or at least interesting).

 

[Forty4]

IMO one of the key points of the dealer button, ESPECIALLY in self dealing games, is to keep the burn cards out of play (added benefit of keeping track for those that ask if they burned). In casinos the place them in the pot but that isn’t always efficient in self dealing games (players on the end).

 

[bsdunbar1]

Personally I would prefer a dealer button but none of the guys I play with care enough about it so we never use one until we get down to 2-3 and someone out decides to deal for us.

 

[Forty4]

Oh and the classic “those aren’t my cards” when the dealer is involved in the hand.

 

[trigs]

One deck being used - I'm okay with no dealer button. Two decks being used - I prefer dealer button in play.

 

[doughboy63]

A dealer button when passing the deal grinds my gears. It’s just unneeded and cumbersome. Ymmv.

 

[rowlin]

I can’t imagine playing in a single deck game, period, and especially one that is self dealt, so I guess that places me in the “yes to button” camp by default.

 

[timinater]

We play with two decks. After you finish your deal you pass the button, not hard, nor cumbersome. Take it or leave it with one deck, but typically we use one.

As with most things, I'm averse to having a strong opinion on things that really don't matter in the big picture.

 

[k9dr]

Like KC mentioned, I like to tuck the burn cards under the dealer button. If a HI LO button is being used, I don't think a separate dealer button is necessary.

 

[ADS Aviator]

My personal opinion..... If you've got good chips and a poker table, you should have two decks of good cards and a dealer button.

 

[BGinGA]

Dealer button serves several purposes -- indicates which player position is the dealer (regardless of the deck stub location, which may or may not be physically in somebody's hand), provides a visual reference to all players where posted blinds should be, along with first action on each betting or drawing street, can be used to organize and identify the correct number and sequence of burn cards, and indicates the end of every hand after the pot is awarded and the dealer button is moved to it's new position. It is an integral part of proper poker procedure.

It's also handy for capping (and protecting) the deck stub if the dealer needs to temporarily set it down on the table.

Any game without one is just asking for trouble that could be otherwise avoided. Don't really need chips to play poker either, but sure helps to make play go smoother. Same with a dealer button, regardless of game type (home, casino, self-dealt, dealer/player, or dedicated dealer).

 

[abby99]

Yes, if the rotation includes stud and/or draw games -- that's where the burn cards go. Otherwise, I have no strong preference unless the DB gets "stuck" in the same spot every orbit.

 

[Rhodeman77]

I have tried using a dealer button in self dealt games but it just gets lost on the table.

Our group is used to keeping track of the dealer by who has the deck. There has never been an issue.

We end having more mistakes when someone goes broke but doesn’t want to leave and offers to deal. We use a button then but often times the person next to the dealer will act out of turn because they are so used to the deck being the button. I have done it myself on occasion.

 

[TheBigTater]

Personally I like em' and collect them. I think they are a cool accessory. In a self dealt game I use the button to cap the stub.

Use em' if you want, Don't use em' if you don't want. Neither choice makes a hill of beans in the long run.

 

[StaggerLee]

Occasionally we'll have a dealer, more so a cheap bastard that likes to watch poker. If we have a dealer for sure we want a button. I'm curious if you guys have 2 decks in rotation, one being played and one ready to go for the next hand? That makes way more sense than waiting around. I think I'll invent this next time we play.

 

[doughboy63]

Occasionally we'll have a dealer, more so a cheap bastard that likes to watch poker. If we have a dealer for sure we want a button. I'm curious if you guys have 2 decks in rotation, one being played and one ready to go for the next hand? That makes way more sense than waiting around. I think I'll invent this next time we play.

Bring on the shuffle ahead vs shuffle behind debate.

Shuffle behind is the correct answer btw

 

[ReallyGoodUsername]

I'm curious if you guys have 2 decks in rotation, one being played and one ready to go for the next hand? That makes way more sense than waiting around. I think I'll invent this next time we play.

Yes - it's a huge help in keeping the game moving so there's not as much dead time between each hand. Essentially the previous dealer will shuffle the extra deck and hand it to the next (not current) dealer when they're done.

 

[ReallyGoodUsername]

Bring on the shuffle ahead vs shuffle behind debate.

Shuffle behind is the correct answer btw

Wow didn't know that was a thing... shuffle ahead? Woof

 

[detroitdad]

add indifferent. Ultimately I don't care

 

[Trihonda]

Bring on the shuffle ahead vs shuffle behind debate.

Shuffle behind is the correct answer btw

To be honest, the last thread on this "behind or ahead" topic included debate about the extra seconds each dealer action might take (ie. passing the shuffled deck forward or back), and how much that might slow the game down.. I wonder how those same people feel about the extra second it takes to pass the button.

Since we don't typically use a button, we probably gain an extra few hands per hour.

 

[ReallyGoodUsername]

add indifferent. Ultimately I don't care

Agreed. Overall it's a question of the type of players you have at your game. At most of my games the players are just as focused on smoking and drinking as they are with playing. If we didn't have a button the question "whose deal" would come up every other hand. The games I go to though, everyone's drinking water for the most part and there to play so there's no need.

 

[ReallyGoodUsername]

debate about the extra seconds each dealer action might take (ie. passing the shuffled deck forward or back)

Might as well have a debate on whether conversations outside of the poker game at hand should be allowed if people are concerned about a few seconds here or there.

 

[CdnBeerLover]

...we never use one until we get down to 2-3 and someone out decides to deal for us.

^^^This. We use a single deck, so that tells us who the dealer is. When we have used a button, there is invariably one player who moves it close to the rail to "get it out of the way" while they deal and then forgets about it. Drives me nuts.

 

[pltrgyst]

View attachment 218022

If you have a dealer button that's that beautiful, it would be criminal for everyone at the table to not have the opportunity to fondle it.

And if they're too dumb to appreciate it, it should be forced upon them. :

 

[BukNaked36]

From what I've seen, they cause more confusion than help.

 

[joker80]

What about in tournaments when you have a dead dealer or an absentee dealer? Need a button

 

[Trihonda]

What about in tournaments when you have a dead dealer or an absentee dealer? Need a button

“Need” is such a strong word... I’ve played in MANY self dealt bar tournaments (maybe 1-2x/week) and not one of these uses dealer buttons. Somehow the games seem to run just fine.

 

[200 Motels]

I play at a home game full of casino dealers. Almost all of them hate using a dealer button. Baffling.

Biggest dealer button pet peeve is when you're in a game that uses the button and someone fucking puts it behinds their stack or somewhere out of sight. I want to end them.

 

[Chris Manzoni]

Not using a dealer button is a thing? Don't know that I've ever played in a home game without one, except for back in the day nickel/dime/quarter kitchen table stuff.

 

[bsdunbar1]

Biggest dealer button pet peeve is when you're in a game that uses the button and someone fucking puts it behinds their stack or somewhere out of sight

This is the #1 reason I don't force the issue with using a dealer button.
Even when I am heads up (playing or dealing) I constantly have to pull the button out of the other players stack and place it where it should be.
This is another one of those things that is chalked up to what your players/group is used to.