Matt Savage is the Executive Tour Director of the WPT and founder of the TDA.
https://www.worldpokertour.com/news/savage-blog-081618/
https://www.worldpokertour.com/news/savage-blog-081618/
It really makes a lot of sense.
So the guy in nearly the worst position (only small blind being worse) has to risk the most before he even sees his cards.
And why? Simplicity? It's too much work to post an ante every hand and collect them before the deal?!
If you are trying to teach a kid multiplication and he doesn't get it, you scrap it and go back to addition?
I'm not a fan. It has a big impact on the short stack, IMO. Plus, in situations where the BBA can't post the full amount, and/or the BBA is all in and so is another player, there are resolutions that need to be identified. Things that have already been dealt with and universally accepted by poker players.
I see this as a solution in search of a problem. It's not a big enough deal to raise a stink over, but it definitely affects the game play.
And why? Simplicity? It's too much work to post an ante every hand and collect them before the deal?
You surely can’t believe this is a more player friendly ruleMaybe the solution is to make someone who is not paying attention and doesn't have their ante ready post a double ante, taking the second ante out of play.
People will learn real quick to post an ante when the dealer calls for it at the start of the deal. Seems the BBA takes personal responsibility away from the player and makes it easier on them.
Want easier? Go play black jack or slots.
It’s not a slippery slope. And if you think antes are not a problem in games than you have been blessed to play with better players than a typical public game. I want the inattentive poo flinging dead money monkeys in my game. It’s where profit comes from.I'm not worried about being player-friendly. I agree that what Savage that friendly to one player is harsh to another.
I'm more concerned about being fair and even-handed. Teaching players to play within the rules, including paying attention and posting antes, is not a bad thing. If a player can't pay attention, the problem is the player, not the rule.
I'm not a dealer, but our games are self-dealt. Start the deal and announce what ante is due. When you're dealing the first card, announce who is short an ante (or blind). Remind them in the second card out. That should be enough to get everything posted. Collect the antes after the deal is out. How does this cause you to lose a hand per orbit?
I'm not saying the BBA is dysfunctional, but it does change the game. And there is already a procedure for the quick and efficient posting of antes. Why re-write the rule for players that can't follow it? Isn't it better to teach those offending players proper play procedures?
What's next? BB posts that BB+SB+table antes because it easier than requiring two players to pay attention? Why not have the floor post everything from the players stacks, that way players don't have to pay attention at all?
It's a slippery slope.
So the guy in nearly the worst position (only small blind being worse) has to risk the most before he even sees his cards.
Because people aren't paying attention? Why institute a rule that promotes an environment where people don't have to pay attention?
Every tournament I've ever played, the antes are collected before the deal, so I'm not sure you guys are doing it right.I'm not worried about being player-friendly. I agree that what Savage that friendly to one player is harsh to another.
I'm more concerned about being fair and even-handed. Teaching players to play within the rules, including paying attention and posting antes, is not a bad thing. If a player can't pay attention, the problem is the player, not the rule.
I'm not a dealer, but our games are self-dealt. Start the deal and announce what ante is due. When you're dealing the first card, announce who is short an ante (or blind). Remind them in the second card out. That should be enough to get everything posted. Collect the antes after the deal is out. How does this cause you to lose a hand per orbit?
I'm not saying the BBA is dysfunctional, but it does change the game. And there is already a procedure for the quick and efficient posting of antes. Why re-write the rule for players that can't follow it? Isn't it better to teach those offending players proper play procedures?
What's next? BB posts that BB+SB+table antes because it easier than requiring two players to pay attention? Why not have the floor post everything from the players stacks, that way players don't have to pay attention at all?
It's a slippery slope.
This one is extremely rare and up for debate, but it is a situation to be aware of. The player in the big blind antes first, but only has one chip and is all in by posting the ante. Action folds to the player in the small blind, who calls. The board runs out to force a chopped pot, so who wins the one-chip ante?
But I don’t believe that’s necessarily part of the rule. I’m sure I heard of a tournament this summer, maybe it was the WSOP, with BBA where the rule was that the blind gets paid first.Requiring that the ante be posted before the big blind is the most idiotic part of the rule. Forces a player to be all-in for a pot that contains nothing except the chips he contributed. Ludicrous.
I have a lot of respect for Matt Savage (admittedly less, given his views on this issue), but he's dead wrong on that aspect.
All three currently-used versions of tournament table antes have flaws. Some are more flawed than others, with BBA/ante-first being the worst by far.
And until somebody comes up with a flawless solution, it shouldn't be crammed down players' throats, to fix a nonexistent problem.