Extra hands are been dealt on PokerStars

[A2020]

I recently got back into playing poker on pokerstars.

I made 2 final tables and noticed some weird behavior from the software.

In both cases the tournaments were going into Hand by hand, when 10 players were left.

In one of them we were 5 on each table and on my table we got down to 4 players, meaning only 9 players were left on the tournament, however, before getting moved to the final table, an extra hand was dealt for the 4 players in this (my) table.

On the other tournament again we were down to 5 players on each table, in the Hand by hand period, 2 players were knocked out on my table and 1 player on the other table, so we were down to 7 players. However, when the 3 in my table got moved to the final table, the 4 players in there were already playing a hand, and we didn't get cards.

Why is this happening? Something changed? Because I don't think this was the behavior or should be, right?

Anyone else experienced the same?

 

[Bricxjo]

Sounds strange, I would be interested to see if there is some response to this, so I am going to move it to poker rooms and see if it gets more attention there and add PS to the title.

 

[fundiver199]

Yes this is, how it works on Stars. When players are moved to a new table, they are not dealt in until the next hand.

 

[A2020]

Yes this is, how it works on Stars. When players are moved to a new table, they are not dealt in until the next hand.

This part I know and understand. But when the tournament reaches the final table all players should be deal in the hand. That's why the tournament goes into Hand by hand mode.

 

[Joe]

I recently got back into playing poker on PokerStars.

I made 2 final tables and noticed some weird behavior from the software.

In both cases the tournaments were going into Hand by hand, when 10 players were left.

In one of them we were 5 on each table and on my table we got down to 4 players, meaning only 9 players were left on the tournament, however, before getting moved to the final table, an extra hand was dealt for the 4 players in this (my) table.

On the other tournament again we were down to 5 players on each table, in the Hand by hand period, 2 players were knocked out on my table and 1 player on the other table, so we were down to 7 players. However, when the 3 in my table got moved to the final table, the 4 players in there were already playing a hand, and we didn't get cards.

Why is this happening? Something changed? Because I don't think this was the behavior or should be, right?

Anyone else experienced the same?

It's because of the dealer button position and the blinds.

Sometimes the players already seated at what is going to be the 'FT' need to play out one penultimate hand to get the blind/button positions correct for the players joining from the other table to be able to be dealt into the following hand correctly.

This kind of thing is common and you'll often see similar things happening live where player(s) joining a new table aren't dealt into the game until the following hand or so as to miss or come in on a blind/position.

I can't say definitively that this is what you witnessed but based on what you've said it's about 90-95% likely that is the kind of thing you observed.

Kind Regards,

 

[fundiver199]

That's why the tournament goes into Hand by hand mode.

The tournament goes into hand for hand mode to prevent a situation, where a lot of players would otherwise stall the action to increase their chance of making it to the final table.

 

[A2020]

It's because of the dealer button position and the blinds.

Sometimes the players already seated at what is going to be the 'FT' need to play out one penultimate hand to get the blind/button positions correct for the players joining from the other table to be able to be dealt into the following hand correctly.

This kind of thing is common and you'll often see similar things happening live where player(s) joining a new table aren't dealt into the game until the following hand or so as to miss or come in on a blind/position.

I can't say definitively that this is what you witnessed but based on what you've said it's about 90-95% likely that is the kind of thing you observed.

Kind Regards,

Thanks you for the explanation, I guess I didn't remember it been this way, or never noticed.
Good to know it's totally normal.

 

[Fushicho]

I've noticed this. Nice to have an explanation.