On Wednesday, March 5, a reader sent me the following email (edited):
I’m trying to make sure my seat changing procedure is correct. I had two tables of eight, Tables A and B. The player in the big blind busts out of the tournament at Table B, leaving Table B with six players and Table A with eight players. The Tournament Director stopped the clock while Table A finished the current hand. He then moved the big blind at Table A into the small blind at Table B. I’m 99% sure this is correct except for the clock stoppage, but since Table B was told to stop play until the change occurred, my feeling is that burning valuable blind time is not in the best interest of the game. Should the clock be stopped?
Dear Reader:
To answer you question: No, the clock should not be stopped; however, there are more factors at work here that may better explain why the clock should not be stopped.
First, the right player did not move to Table B. The person who was next in line to be the Big Blind should have moved tables, not the person currently in the Big Blind. When that person moves tables, he does not necessarily take the seat of the last person eliminated, but takes the empty seat that will be the Big Blind the soonest. In your example, he would have probably taken the seat of the first person to be eliminated, not the second person to be eliminated.
Second, the players at Table B should not have been instructed to stop playing. They can continue play while they are waiting for the tables to be evened. If the player to be moved is on his/her way to the table, there is nothing wrong with slightly delaying the hand, but if he/she is still in a hand, continue playing.
I hope this helps. Good luck on the felt.
Until next time,
KC
Stumble it!
