What is the Button in poker? and how is it played in real games during bidding?

Question

What is the Button in poker? and how is it played in real games during bidding?

Answer 1

Generally in a home game, people play pass the deal.  Each person gets to deal a hand, and then the deal passes to the next person in a clockwise fashion.

But in a real casino, they don't want the players holding the cards, so they have a professional dealer.

During each round the player to the left of the dealer gets to go first (check, raise, bet etc.).  But it would be unfair for the same person who just happened to be sitting next to the dealer had to go first every time.  In poker if you are the last person to make your decision, you have a huge advantage because you have watched what every player before you has done.  This gives you information that was not available to the person who had to go first.

So casinos, and more professional games, have a dealer button.  The cards are dealt from that position, and the person to the left of the button acts first (except in the first round when blinds are being used).

After each hand the button moves around the table, so everyone has an equal chance at acting first and last.  This makes the game fair for everyone.