There are poker game variations that have mechanisms that are not very common to most of us. Here we will translate an article that reports on a mechanism used to give a different dynamic to live games. If you travel to play in casinos, you may encounter this type of situation.
In this mini-series, I’ve been discussing all the different types of buttons you can find at casino poker tables. There’s a lot more to explain, so let’s get right to it.
KILL / HALF KILL
“Kill” is one of those words that has a specific, non-obvious meaning in poker that seems completely separate from its more familiar usage outside of the game. In poker, a “pot kill” means a hand in which the betting stakes are double their usual amount. For example, the $2/$4 Omaha Hi-Lo bets suddenly become $4 and $8 when the “kill” is on, even though the blinds usually remain the same.
Furthermore, the player who caused the situation is required to provide the pot with a certain amount, usually twice the regular big blind. A “half-kill” means that the stacks are increased by 50% – in the example given, to $3/$6. You will never find both a full kill and a half kill being employed in the same game; it is one or the other, never both.
What causes a Kill or Half Kill to come into effect? The most common mechanisms are (1) a player winning two pots in a row, or (2) a player winning a pot over a certain threshold amount. Again, these will never be used simultaneously.
The other side of the “kill” button will usually say “no-kill” or “Leg up.” Leg up is the term used for a player who has just won a pot; this means that if he wins the next hand, he will also be required to “kill” the pot after that extra double blind. If this happens, the dealer will flip the button so that the “kill” (or “half kill”) is facing up.
If the casino is using the pot size trigger, the dealer will normally keep the “kill” button on his table until a player wins a qualifying pot, or will keep it near him with the “no-kill” side until the kill is in effect.
I understand that this all sounds complicated just reading about it if you haven't encountered this type of game before. After doing it once or twice, though, you'll find that it all makes perfect sense.
ALL IN / CALL
I lived and played poker in Las Vegas for a few years before I saw the first “All In” and “Call” buttons. They are fairly new in terms of development, and seem to be becoming more widely accepted in both cash games and tournaments.
There is no mystery about these buttons. The dealer places the “All In” button on the table in front of a player who has moved all of his chips forward, or has made a verbal declaration that he is “all in”. If another player calls that bet, he will get the “Call” button.
Their purpose is simply to add a visual cue to these important actions so that no player misses them due to inattention, excessive ambient noise in the poker room, etc. It is hoped that placing these markers on the table will reduce the number of times that an extra argument disrupts the dynamics of the hand such as: “I didn’t hear you were all in! I wouldn’t have called if I had known that was the case!”
OVERS
The use of the “overs” button is rare enough that you’ll probably have to fight to find it. In six years of regular gambling in Las Vegas, I’ve only seen it used at two casinos.
The basic idea is that these buttons turn a limit game into a no-limit game under certain conditions. Each player can choose whether or not to have an “overs” button. If at any point in the hand the only remaining players contest the pot, they all have an “overs” button to promote changes in betting to no-limit.
Personally, I don't like playing this way. I want my game to be limit or no-limit. I don't mind if it changes between hands, like in a mixed game, but I don't want the betting structure to change in the middle of a hand. But some people find it a lot of fun to have it suddenly become a big pot.
THIRD MAN WALKING
Fortunately, the “Third Man Walking” button has nothing to do with a depressing Sean Penn movie. Instead, some casinos have what they call a “third man walking” rule, and the button signals that the rule is in effect.
The rule is intended to prevent a cascade or domino effect of players quitting. Some players absolutely dislike playing with multiple empty seats at the table. These players will either want to take a break or simply refuse to participate if three or more other players are simultaneously absent. Naturally, each such refusal reduces the size of the game and is likely to trigger other sit outs, as well. In this way, three people who have been having a lively game may find themselves at an immediate standstill.
To combat this, the “third man standing” rule states that a maximum of two players can be absent from the game at the same time. If a third person also decides to take a break, that player can only go until it is their big blind time. If the player does not return by then, the chips are taken and their spot is given to whoever is next on the waiting list. This way, even if a game has three people missing, it is not for more than one orbit/round of play.
The “third man walking” button is then placed in front of the seat of the 3rd player who has left, when two other players are already absent. It serves both as a warning that the rule is in effect, and as a promise to the remaining players that they won’t be three people for long. Only a minority of casinos have this rule, so you probably won’t encounter this situation, but it’s best to be aware in such cases.
Original article: Casino Poker for Beginners: All In, Call, and Kill Buttons (& More)
Translated and adapted by: prof_anselmo
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I really liked the explanations, I understood almost everything, except the Kill – Half Kill thing, the explanation was very vague and complicated, I couldn't really understand how it would work!!! :/