Before we talk about the Button Ante, it might be a good idea to discuss the common ante first. During tournament poker, an ante is used especially in casino tournaments. In addition to the big blind and small blind, this is a third mandatory bet that must be made every round. Often antes are only introduced later in the tournament. In Holland Casino this often happens from level 4 or level 5.
The ante is also the most normal thing in the world in the foreign tournaments that are held in Las Vegas, Dublin, Rozvadov, Macau or Barcelona, for example. In the old form it was the case that with blinds of 1000/2000 all players have to pay an ante of 200. This is done before the start of the hand. The players in the blinds also have to pay ante. With situs poker online you can find the best options.
Much has been tested in recent years to improve the ante system. We will discuss the disadvantages of the old system just as quickly. In the normal ante format, all players must pay the ante. The dealer must collect them before the hand starts. This takes a lot of time because players often do not pay attention. What you often see is that discussions arise between dealers and players who have or have not paid. To prevent this, casinos have started testing with the big blind ante and button ante.
Button Ante
In this article we want to talk about the button ante. In the button ante, a player receives the big blind first, then the small blind and then the button ante in the hand. This means that the player on the button must pay the ante for the entire table. Let’s take the example again where the blinds are 1000/2000. With 3-4-5 players at the table, the ante is equal to the small blind. in this case therefore 1000. With 6-7-8-9 or 10 players at the table, the button ante is the same as the big blind, in this case so 2000. The advantage of the button ante is that it goes much faster and the dealer does not have to take the ante everywhere. The disadvantage is that it is possible that there is no player on the button.In that case there is no button ante either. Also, both the dealer and players should pay close attention to how many players are at the table.
The Kings Casino in Rozvadov has been using the Button Ante since 2017. The reactions of players who have played with it are positive. Holland Casino is now also testing with this format. The World Series of Poker and European Poker Tour will use the big blind ante in 2018. In this format, it is the big blind who must pay the ante for the entire table. The difference is that in the big blind ante the ante is always equal to the amount of the big blind, regardless of the number of players at the table. Another advantage is that you can never have a hand without an ante, because there is always a big blind at the table.
Disadvantages to the Button Ante
The player who is on the small blind in the current hand gets the button in the next hand. If he is eliminated, there is no player on the button in the next round. If the big blind player is eliminated, the next hand is played without a small blind. A hand can never be played without a big blind player, but without a button or small blind player.
Conclusion
This has serious consequences for the button ante, because without a player on the button there is no one to pay the ante. In tournaments with a button ante, it can occasionally happen that a hand is played without an ante. This can never happen in a tournament with a big blind ante.
