An action button is a physical marker placed in front of a player who must post a forced blind or straddle when returning to a poker game after missing blinds.
The action button serves as a reminder and obligation that a player owes blinds to the pot before they can receive cards again. This mechanism ensures fairness in games where players come and go, preventing anyone from avoiding their blind obligations by sitting out during their blind positions. The button itself is typically a small disk or chip marked with “Action” or “Missed Blind” that the dealer places in front of the returning player’s seat.
When you return to a cash game after missing one or more blinds, the dealer will often place this button in front of you to indicate you must wait for the big blind or post immediately to rejoin the action.
How Does Action Button Work?
When a player leaves the table during their blinds and returns, they have two options:
1. Wait for the big blind position to come around naturally
2. Post the missed blind(s) immediately to receive cards right away
If choosing option 2, the dealer places the action button in front of the player. The player must then post an amount equal to the big blind (or both blinds if they missed both). Only the big blind amount goes into the pot as a live bet. Any small blind portion is dead money that goes directly into the pot.
The action button remains until the player posts the required blind, after which the dealer removes it and deals them into the next hand.
Action Button vs Dead Button
These terms are often confused but serve different purposes. An action button marks a player who owes blinds. A dead button indicates where the dealer button would be if a player hadn’t busted out in a tournament, maintaining proper blind positions.
