[Sniper2075]

Originally Posted by Nugzy

I was under the impression that a straddle is when the UTG player doubles the big blind, and what makes it different than a minimum raise is the fact that he can act last preflop now. But if some people dont agree to straddle, then the UTG player can still post that double blind, but that will be his action and he wont get to act last preflop. The only time Ive seen a straddle is on High Stakes Poker. Its actually happened a few times on the show. Each time they make sure everyone at the table is ok with it first, and if so they do it for a round or two. I think I remember someone not agreeing to it so the table didnt do it.

OK, in that situation they wanted to do an entire orbit, so they wanted everybody to agree to do the entire orbit, so it would basically be a 3 blind game. You still should be able to straddle whenever you want. They just wanted to get everybody to do it. If an certain player still wanted to straddle, it would be live and any player who says otherwise would be wrong. If someone was questioning my straddle in a casino I would just call the floor over and most likely it would stand, even though the dealer would probably already take care of it. I even remember on High Stake Poker when they tried to get a straddle going but it got shot down, well Sammy had already posted a straddle, it was live even though they didn't agree to do the whole orbit.

[Quads]

I straddle often. I like doing it especially on a tight table. It can often break a table open and general action.

Depending on the card room or casino, they either do not allow it, or allowed from UTG ONLY, or allowed on UTG or on the button, and in rare cases, from anywhere other than a blind. Typically, in NV. casinos, you can straddle ONLY from UTG, and in a NL game, you can only straddle 2X the BB.

I allow it in my home game if you are UTG. It is treated as a dark bet, not a raise, and you get last option to act. Often in my game, you will get UTG +1 who gets in on the action who then posts a dead bet in front of the straddle. So the table looks like Button, SB $5, BB $10, UTG $20 and UTG+1 $50. That's when the game gets live! We've seen a full orbit of this on several occasions.

[Sniper2075]

Originally Posted by Quads

So the table looks like Button, SB $5, BB $10, UTG $20 and UTG+1 $50. That's when the game gets live! We've seen a full orbit of this on several occasions.

I don't know what to say, I can't wait untill I am both good enough and have the bankroll to play in a $5/$10 NL game and that right there for an entire orbit is just crazy, that has to get the action going big time, with all that almost dead money, if you pickup a good hand you would probably be raking a huge pot.

[ky70]

Let's complicate things...do you also allow re-straddles (player to left of the straddler doubling the straddle)? If so, does any subsequent preflop raise now have to be at least twice the size of the restraddle?

After the flop, is the minmum bet back to the big blind amount or is the straddle/restraddle amount now the new minimum bring in for all rounds?

[Jambine]

Originally Posted by ky70

Let's complicate things...do you also allow re-straddles (player to left of the straddler doubling the straddle)? If so, does any subsequent preflop raise now have to be at least twice the size of the restraddle?

After the flop, is the minmum bet back to the big blind amount or is the straddle/restraddle amount now the new minimum bring in for all rounds?

That is correct. If its 1-2 and UTG straddles to 4, then that’s the minimum bet for that hand.
If UTG+1 straddles to 8, then 8 is the minimum bet for that hand.
If UTG+2 straddles to 16….. Wait, that would be “One flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” poker.

Has anyone pointed out that a straddle is a really bad bet?

[ky70]

Originally Posted by Jambine

That is correct. If its 1-2 and UTG straddles to 4, then that’s the minimum bet for that hand.
If UTG+1 straddles to 8, then 8 is the minimum bet for that hand.
If UTG+2 straddles to 16….. Wait, that would be “One flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” poker.

Has anyone pointed out that a straddle is a really bad bet?

Thanks for the clarification (your explanation was easy to follow)...I don't think I have handled the minimum bet correctly after the flop in the past.

Oh yeah, and I agree it is a bad play (cousin to the check in the dark) but it will add some interest to actionless game.

[Sniper2075]

Originally Posted by ky70

Thanks for the clarification (your explanation was easy to follow)...I don't think I have handled the minimum bet correctly after the flop in the past.

Oh yeah, and I agree it is a bad play (cousin to the check in the dark) but it will add some interest to actionless game.

Thats why if a player is constently checking in the dark on the flop and its heads up with me and that player, if I have a decent hand I will bring it right back and bet in the dark. Usually that will end the checking in the dark, atleast against me.

[Jambine]

Originally Posted by Sniper2075

Thats why if a player is constently checking in the dark on the flop and its heads up with me and that player, if I have a decent hand I will bring it right back and bet in the dark. Usually that will end the checking in the dark, atleast against me.

That is an excellent counter-play

[ky70]

Originally Posted by Sniper2075

Thats why if a player is constently checking in the dark on the flop and its heads up with me and that player, if I have a decent hand I will bring it right back and bet in the dark. Usually that will end the checking in the dark, atleast against me.

Can a bet in the dark be any amount from the minimum bet all the way up to All-in (assuming no-limit)?

[Jambine]

Originally Posted by ky70

Can a bet in the dark be any amount from the minimum bet all the way up to All-in (assuming no-limit)?

Sure. As long as the action is on you. If we are heads up and I check dark, it's your turn to act. You can call, raise or fold in the dark.