Balancing Tables

My last blog about free poker cheating brought about another issue that I felt was worth a discussion.
This is from Facebook by a local player Butch.

When moving players to balance tables TDA rules clearly state that the next big blind gets moved to the worst position. It doesn't give the option of moving any other position like one behind the dealer. All directors need to apply this rule.

Here is actual TDA Rule
In flop and mixed games when balancing tables, the player who will be big blind next will be moved to the worst position, including taking a single big blind when available, even if that means the seat will have the big blind twice. Worst position is never the small blind.

There are several local games that move from the exact table position to the exact table position regardless of where on the table it is, so using this way you could move from small blind to small blind.

I personally use the TDA rule as it is what most Casinos do, but I do see the logic behind the way it does make some sense. I think that the TDA rule takes into account the disadvantage of moving to a new table. You lose any reads you have the players on that table and then move to a table that you don't know anything or will have to take time learning about new players. In fact in free poker games it is not unusual for the player moving to be knocked out soon after the move. It can sometimes be an advantage to make the move. If table had lots of big stacks and you move to a table with smaller stacks. One tournament, I got moved from next big blind to along ways away from big blind and then before I was big blind again I got moved again away from the big blind. I was short stacked at the time and by not paying blinds I was able to limp my way into the money. Not sure I would have made it otherwise.