Before you can play poker you’ve got to select the table you’re going to play at.  Beginners will often overlook the importance of understanding how the table factors into the game.  Even players with some experience under their belt might not realize everything that’s going on at the table and how it’s affecting their game.  No matter whether you’re playing a casino game or in an online poker room, the table is dictating play before the first hand is even won.

            Poker tables can be highly customized but are typically a round or oval in shape with a cloth felt top in any number of colors.  Depending on the game that you’re playing and the size of the table most will seat 5-10 players at a time.  The number of players at the table dictates the kind of game it is and will affect how you should play.  In a typical ring game having around 7 or more players is going to be a long handed game and is also known as a full table. 

If there’s 3-6 players at the table it’s considered a short-handed game, while two players is called head’s up play.  A ring game is when only a single table is involved in the play whereas multi table is when a tournament consists of more than one table of players that is continually reduced until only one table of players remain.

            The most important seat at the table belongs to the dealer position.  It is from this spot at the table that the order in which the hand is dealt and bet on is determined thus establishing all the players’ positions.  It’s also the most advantageous seat since the dealer position is the last to act in the betting rounds.

There can either be a dealer who is playing the game or a professional dealer that’s neutral in the game and just dealing the cards.  When there’s a professional dealer what’s known as the dealer button is introduced to the game.  This is usually a white disc that moves around the table clockwise as a place holder for the dealer position, moving one seat with each game.  This position is also commonly referred to as “on the button”.

The dealer button works slightly different if a poker game involves blind betting.  In head’s up play the dealer button will establish who is the small blind, leaving the other player as the big blind.  Beyond head’s up play, the dealer position is affected by the blinds if the player next up in the small blind position (the big blind position) goes out during a hand.  If this happens the small blind is simply ignored for that hand leaving only the big blind then the dealer position. 

If the player who’s getting the button next goes out then the dead button rule is applied.  The dealer button will move over one spot as normal to the empty seat and there simply won’t be an actual dealer position player that hand.  That way the positions stay the same for the next hand.

            The dealer is just one of many poker positions player can assume at a table and if there are blinds a few more are added to the mix.  How many players are at the table will affect the positions as well. 

Small Blind:  The seat to the left of the dealer button who will be receiving it next is the small blind position.  In order to get that coveted button the small blind has to pay for it with a blind bet before the cards are dealt in the amount of at least half the big blind.  This is done because in community card games there are no antes so the blind bets serve to start the pot.  The cards will be dealt then the action goes around the whole table before coming back to the small blind.  If they want to stay in the game they have to put in at least the other half of the big blind or however much the bet’s been raised to.   

Big Blind:  The seat to the left of the small blind is the big blind position.  They as well must put in a blind bet however the big blind will be contributing a full bet.  But this means when the action makes its way back to the big blind they must simply meet the raise amount to stay in the game, if there was one.

Under The Gun:  This is the position just after the big blind.  UTG position is the first to act in the first round of betting which definitely has its disadvantages. 

Early:  The early positions are going to be the first three players after the dealer position at a full table.  This includes the big blind and small blind if they’re being used as well as the UTG position.  These are considered the least desirable positions at the table as blinds will have to put in extra money and the early positions will all have to act before getting to see what the rest of the table is going to do.

Middle:  Depending on the number of players there are usually 1-3 players in the middle positions.  These are the seats to the left of the early positions.  These seats are fairly neutral as to advantages and disadvantage of position.

Late:  These are the remaining seats to the left of the middle positions and again can be anywhere from 1-3 players, including the dealer position.  This is where players want to be since you have the advantage of seeing what everyone else does in a betting round before action in on you.

            Based on how we typically envision a poker table it seems unlikely any real etiquette would be involved.  However in the world of real money poker both in casinos and online there’s definitely table etiquette that should be followed unless you don’t care whether other players like you or whether you’ll keep playing at that establishment long. From how you interact with players to how you put your chips in the pot there’s unwritten but well-known rules to how to behave.
               

For specifics on the proper etiquette to use at a poker table please read our article on the subject.  Other players will appreciate your efforts.

 

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