[spidey44]

Must be declared before cards are dealt, right?

[scottwire]

yeah, its treated as an extra blind

[clbodner]

In my cash game you are allowed to straddle as long as 1st to act has not gotten both cards. He may say stradle a sthe dealer is dealing, and we are ok with that since he hasn't looked yet.

[shadesofgrey]

Either before the cards are dealt (all places). Most places allow prior to looking at your cards. I play games where only one straddle is allowed, and others where double and triple straddles occur

[A-Ro]

What is the allowable amount (min-max) of a straddle?

[shanghai_sparky]

The games I have been in where a straddle is allowed, the bets are doubled for each straddle.
One game allowed everyone up to the button to straddle bet. So the UTG could make it 2xBB, the next could make it 4x, then 8x, etc up to the button.
The only time that happens is when the whole table is full of maniacs, and eventually it becomes all-in around the table before the flop.
Exciting, yes. Crazy, also yes. I avoid those types of tables.

[shadesofgrey]

Originally Posted by A-Ro

What is the allowable amount (min-max) of a straddle?

Once around the table - to the button, double the BB the first straddle, then 2X the previous straddle.... Pretty insane, but I play with a few yahoo's

I sometimes apply a straddle to put someone on tilt or just to mess with them.... it tends to PO the BB & SB when its done repeatedly.

Overall, I think straddling is a horrible move unless you use it to play position (some people dont). They just check their straddle down - brilliant move!

I havent seen anyone mention it, but the whole idea behind the straddling is that you get last action.... so you effectively steal the position of the BB... Its nice to move from UTG to BB position every once in a while.

[B.C.]

Originally Posted by clbodner

In my cash game you are allowed to straddle as long as 1st to act has not gotten both cards. He may say stradle a sthe dealer is dealing, and we are ok with that since he hasn't looked yet.

^^^^^

[Quads]

My game (I only host NL games, so I'll speak from that perspective) you can straddle UTG *IF* you haven't looked at either one of your cards. I'd prefer to see the straddle out there before the cards come off the deck, but if you don't look, put your straddle out there.

Straddle is a live beat. Straddler gets last action.

UTG+1 can overstraddle. Overstraddle is live, and gets last action after UTG has option.

Straddle must be at least the min raise, and has no cap to it. We've seen $10 straddles, and once in a great while, you get an action table with $50 and $100 straddles. (in the $2/5, to $5/10 blind range)

[julian]

i play this 5/10 game where it's not unusual to see a quad straddle to 160$

real live game