[Dwight87]

What use is a staddle bet for a NLHE game besides encouraging action? Any reasons why you like to call for a staddle bet? Also, are other players obligated to play with a straddle bet if someone besides UTG calls for a straddle bet?

[VARoadstter]

Yes, people straddle sometimes. Usually someone will get frustrated because the game is getting really tight and they want to see if they can loosen things up. Straddles have to be agreed upon unanimously by the other players at the table. I will always allow someone to straddle and just treat it as a minraise from UTG.

[scottwire]

Only UTG decides whether he wants to straddle or not. No one can force you to straddle.

The only real advantage is that if there are limpers and no one raises, you become last to act preflop and get the option to check or raise.

I personally hate straddles and last week at Imperial Palace more than half my table was doing it and only 1 or 2 others didn't besides me at our full table.

[hachkc]

At Friday night's game, we had a mini straddle-fest. Guy accidentally posts the BB even though he's UTG, so I talk him into posting a straddle. The next 7 hands are all straddled and one guy posts a straddle anytime he's UTG and the game allows it.

We were playing 1/2 limit dealers choice. I'll straddle usually just to loosen things up a bit.

[Gameface]

The straddle is up to the UTG and the UTG alone assuming it's allowed in the game.

[Sniper2075]

I would think a straddle would always be allowed I mean you can't tell someone they can't straddle. Also, the difference between a straddle and a min raise is they don't get to act last, if eveyone limps around to them. So treating that guys straddle as a min raise is not correct and I would have something to say about it if I was doing the straddle, but I rarely do unless the game is super tight.

[hachkc]

Originally Posted by Sniper2075

I would think a straddle would always be allowed I mean you can't tell someone they can't straddle. Also, the difference between a straddle and a min raise is they don't get to act last, if eveyone limps around to them. So treating that guys straddle as a min raise is not correct and I would have something to say about it if I was doing the straddle, but I rarely do unless the game is super tight.

I had a question similar to this come up at Friday night's game.

In limit, does a straddle count as 1 of the 3 possible raises? I didn't think so but someone else said yes.

Basically, a straddle must be posted before the cards are dealt and simply allows the UTG to bet last instead of the BB but the UTG posts 2x the BB.

[Nugzy]

I suppose technically the UTG player can straddle whenever he feels like it. If someone at the table doesnt agree, then it would be treated as a minimum raise and the UTG player wouldnt have the option to act last. If everyone agreed, then he would get to act last.

[ahopen78]

I straddle EVERY time.

[Sniper2075]

Why does everyone have to agree that its a straddle. If your in a casino and you straddle someone can't say that they don't want to play with the straddle and then its a min raise. You either allow them or it should be stated in your rules that there will be no straddles. You can't say sometimes you can and sometimes you can't.

Originally Posted by Nugzy

I suppose technically the UTG player can straddle whenever he feels like it. If someone at the table doesnt agree, then it would be treated as a minimum raise and the UTG player wouldnt have the option to act last. If everyone agreed, then he would get to act last.