In poker, the figure of the person in charge
of dealing the cards and supervising the bets is key to the smooth running
of the game. But often the terms dealer and croupier are used interchangeably
to refer to this figure. Is this correct, or are there differences between the
two?
When we talk about games of chance, we always
associate the development of the games with the role of a key figure who is in
charge of promoting the game, supervising the game, collecting the bets
and dealing the cards when necessary.
But the name they receive changes depending on
the type of game we are referring to. While in casino games such as
blackjack or roulette we talk about croupier, in poker we usually talk about
dealer. What are the differences?
In essence, we are talking about the same role,
but called in different ways as a matter of purism and association of
functions.
"Croupier" is a word of French origin
that means "dealer", and "dealer" is an English word that
has the same meaning. Over time, the idea has been forged that the
French word is more appropriate for casino games and pure chance, while poker
purists have been using "dealer", especially in Texas Hold'em, as a
matter of consistency.
This difference makes sense if we take into
account that each of the Texas Hold'em positions are universally known
by the same words and initials. "Button", "Under The Gun"
or "Cutoff" are terms of English origin, and therefore
"Dealer" fits better within that scheme.
This has made that, with time, and mainly due
to the custom established by the professional Texas Hold'em, a small
difference has been created between what is considered a croupier and a dealer.
While in a game of chance such as roulette the
croupier is considered a "casino agent" who is in charge of supervising
the bets and announcing the results, the dealer in poker is another actor in
the game: he is not only in charge of supervising the bets, but he is
also in charge of discovering the community cards on the flop, the turn and the
river.
With the mere change of name, the perception
of the dealer's role changes and he is much more integrated, although the
less purist call him croupier and it is perfectly valid.
To know what is the dealer in poker and how
important he is, we must know how a poker game works. The dealer is the one who
starts by dealing two hole cards to each player, the one who places two
community hole cards in the preflop and the one who starts by collecting the
bets.
At the end of the preflop, he adds one more
community card to the flop. Another round of betting follows and the turn,
where the dealer adds one more community card. The last community card
is added on the river, and after closing bets, the showdown is reached, when
the players who have gone all the way to the end must show their cards.
Therefore, the dealer is the one who sets the
pace of the game. Although it is the players who take their time when placing
their bets, it is the dealer who makes the game progress. He is just
another player, but he stands out for his neutral character, since his task is
to supervise the game and ensure that it runs smoothly.
In poker, the dealer is a key figure who
guarantees a good game and is in charge of ensuring that the rules are fully
complied with. Respect for him and his work must be the utmost, as well
as for any casino employee or platform administrator.
The role of the croupier is exactly the same,
except that it is associated with games of chance other than poker. Croupier
is the name given to those who deal the cards in the casino in games such
as blackjack. Dealer is the name given to the dealer at a poker table, a term
popularized by professional poker players themselves over time.
What must be clear is that not all dealers are
croupiers, and not all croupiers can be dealers in a casino. Generally, all
dealers are prepared for it in a casino, because of the possibility of hosting
events or poker tables. But at the same time there are especially in important
events in cities like Las Vegas or Paris, specific poker dealers, who never set
foot on the gambling tables, since their dedication and knowledge are suitable
for the tables of all types of poker modalities.
The figure of the dealer is involved in the
poker game itself. It is usually a figure occupied by a casino employee at
the physical poker tables, while in online poker it can be occupied by an
administrator of the platform.
Casinos have their own rules that everyone
present must comply with and which involve showing respect for both the
dealer's work and the game itself. Expletives, bad gestures, reprimands and
any offensive action towards the dealer or any member of the table are not
allowed, and there is a risk of being expelled from the table if you
repeatedly show a negligent and disrespectful attitude.
It is important to keep in mind that dealers
are limited to simply handling the deck, dealing the cards and uncovering the
community cards, as well as collecting the bets and forming the best
hands in the showdown with the cards of the players who have reached the end of
the round.
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