Scenario 1
Let's take a simple Texas Holdem no-limits cash game example:
Players: A (bust) | B (bust) | C | D | E | F | G
Buttons: D | SB | BB | | | |
Now let's say Player A and B (Dealer and Small Blind) go bust - they went all-in and lost and are not rebuying into the game. How does the Dealer, Small Blind and Big Blind button move in this case?
Scenario 1 - Option 1
As Player C has already been Big Blind it would make sense they will be Small Blind now and deducting from that Dealer would be Player G. But this seems wrong as Player G already was Dealer one game round ago.
Players: A (bust) | B (bust) | C | D | E | F | G
Buttons: | | SB | BB | | | Dealer
Scenario 1 - Option 2
Another option would be to move the Dealer button forward so Player C is Dealer now. This way Player G wouldn't be Dealer twice in a short period of time. But this way Player C has missed being Small Blind. This is also not correct.
Players: A (bust) | B (bust) | C | D | E | F | G
Buttons: | | D | SB | BB | |
Scenario 1 - Option 3
If the options 1 and 2 are not correct is there another option to handle this situation?
Scenario 2
Let's take another example where all buttons go bust.
Players: A (bust) | B (bust) | C (bust) | D | E | F | G
Buttons: D | SB | BB | | | |
Let's say Player A, B and C (Dealer, Small Blind and Big Blind) go bust - they went all-in and lost and are not rebuying into the game. How does the Dealer, Small Blind and Big Blind buttons move in this case?
Scenario 2 - Option 1
Clarko suggested "dead button" rule is used in this case - blinds simply move forward even if onto an empty seat. Dealer and Small Blind are "dead" for this round - only big blind is placed in the pot.
Players: A (bust) | B (bust) | C (bust) | D | E | F | G
Buttons: | D (dead) | SB (dead) | BB | | |
Scenario 3
Clarko in his answer below brought out another interesting scenario whereby both blinds and UTG go bust and won't re-buy immediately. If the "dead button" rule is used (buttons are moved to the empty seat) does this mean in the next round there are no blinds?
Players: A | B (bust) | C (bust) | D (bust) | E | F | G
Buttons: D | SB | BB | | | |
Scenario 3 - Option 1
Moving the buttons for the next round using the "dead button" rule. This way there are no blinds in the next round. It's probably not correct use of the "dead buttons" rule - what's the correct way to handle this?
Players: A | B (bust) | C (bust) | D (bust) | E | F | G
Buttons: | D (dead) | SB (dead) | BB (dead) | | |
OR should buttons move like this for the next round as there always has to be at least a big blind for pre-flop
Players: A | B (bust) | C (bust) | D (bust) | E | F | G
Buttons: | | D (dead) | SB(dead) | BB | |
EDIT: ANSWER - There are two rules one can follow
Using the "Normal moving button" rule
The button moves always to the last player who has paid for both blinds.
Scenario 1 - Solution
Round +0
Players: A (bust) | B (bust) | C | D | E | F | G
Buttons: D | SB | BB | | | |
Round +1
Player G will get the button as they are the last player who paid for both blinds.
Players: (empty) | (empty) | C | D | E | F | G
Buttons: | | SB | BB | | | D
Round +2
Players: (empty) | (empty) | C | D | E | F | G
Buttons: | | D | SB | BB | |
Scenario 2 - Solution
Round +0
Players: A (bust) | B (bust) | C (bust) | D | E | F | G
Buttons: D | SB | BB | | | |
Round +1
Player G will get the button as they are the last player who paid for both blinds. There is no SB in this round. Player D will commit BB.
Players: (empty) | (empty) | (empty) | D | E | F | G
Buttons: | | | BB | | | D
Round +2
Player G will still retain the button as they are the last player who paid for both blinds. SB comes back into game.
Players: (empty) | (empty) | (empty) | D | E | F | G
Buttons: | | | SB | BB | | D
Round +3
Players: (empty) | (empty) | (empty) | D | E | F | G
Buttons: | | | D | SB | BB |
Scenario 3 - Solution
Round +0
Players: A | B (bust) | C (bust) | D (bust) | E | F | G
Buttons: D | SB | BB | | | |
Round +1
Player A will retain the button as they are the last player who paid for both blinds. There is no SB in this round. Player E will commit BB.
Players: A | (empty) | (empty) | (empty) | E | F | G
Buttons: D | | | | BB | |
Round +2
Player A will still retain the button as they are the last player who paid for both blinds. SB comes back into game.
Players: A | (empty) | (empty) | (empty) | E | F | G
Buttons: D | | | | SB | BB |
Round +3
Players: A | (empty) | (empty) | (empty) | E | F | G
Buttons: | | | | D | SB | BB
Using the "Forward moving button" rule
The button moves always to the next player.
Scenario 1 - Solution
Round +0
Players: A (bust) | B (bust) | C | D | E | F | G
Buttons: D | SB | BB | | | |
Round +1
Players: (empty) | (empty) | C | D | E | F | G
Buttons: | | D & SB | BB | BB | |
Round +2
Players: (empty) | (empty) | C | D | E | F | G
Buttons: | | | D & SB | SB | BB |
Round +3
Players: (empty) | (empty) | C | D | E | F | G
Buttons: | | | | D | SB | BB
Scenario 2 - Solution
Round +0
Players: A (bust) | B (bust) | C (bust) | D | E | F | G
Buttons: D | SB | BB | | | |
Round +1
Players: (empty) | (empty) | (empty) | D | E | F | G
Buttons: | | | D & BB | BB | BB |
Round +2
Players: (empty) | (empty) | (empty) | D | E | F | G
Buttons: | | | SB | D & SB | SB | BB
Round +3
Players: (empty) | (empty) | (empty) | D | E | F | G
Buttons: | | | BB | | D | SB
Scenario 3 - Solution
Round +0
Players: A | B (bust) | C (bust) | D (bust) | E | F | G
Buttons: D | SB | BB | | | |
Round +1
Players: A | (empty) | (empty) | (empty) | E | F | G
Buttons: | | | | D & BB | BB | BB
Round +2
Players: A | (empty) | (empty) | (empty) | E | F | G
Buttons: BB | | | | SB | D & SB | SB
Round +3
Players: A | (empty) | (empty) | (empty) | E | F | G
Buttons: SB | | | | BB | | D