New Player: Explain Kill Button Please

[MisterP]

First, let say that I am brand new to holdem with my first live table play last week in Wendover, Nev. When I sat down the first suprise was the "kill button" in use every few pots. I understand it comes up on large pots but don't understand why! What is it's main purpose and does it have any effect on play other than raise the opening $ bet. All in all I held my own, but am still studying hard to improve play.

[Abagadro]

Kill buttons vary with different casinos. However, I play in Wendover so I can explain how they do it out there. I assume you were in the 2-5 spread game out there. If the pot reaches $50.00 (including the rake and JP drop), the next hand becomes a "Kill hand". The person who won the pot has to post $5 regardless of position. The hand is played as a 5/10 structured game (i.e. not a spread, pre-flop is 5, flop is 5, river and turn is $10 bets). If the next pot is again over $50 the kill continues. It goes until an under $50 pot is won and then the next hand is back to 2-5 spread.

Some places a kill goes to a player who wins two hands in a row. Other times it is a 1/2 kill where the next hand's stakes go up by a half (i.e. 4/8 becomes 6/12).

As to the reason, it's just a way of amping up the action/betting and having people play at higher stakes than they normally would, therefore more rake for the house.

Hope this helps.