Straddle play

[sirtimo]

Was playing in one of the local Dallas "underground" clubs yesterday for the first time and was suprised at a variation of straddling they had. I'm used to playing with a live straddles where UTG can straddle for 2xBB and then gets to close the action when it gets around to him. I've also seen where you can straddle from any position around the table,for any amount, but its usually a dead straddle. So in effect it is a blind raise.

Here the straddle played was 2xBB from any position, and also closed the action. BUT....... when I say closed the action, I mean the straddle didn't have to make any action UNTIL everyone else had closed action!

(game was $1/$2 NL)

For example, if I straddle on the button...

MP calls
LP raises
CO re-raises
(IT SKIPS ME ON THE BUTTON)
SB folds
BB calls
MP calls
LP calls...
NOW... I get to call OR re-raise. Dosn't matter how many raises or reraises happen. Pretty interesting. After the flop the play is normal.

So, anyone else ever seen this, and can anyone think of a reason why you wouldn't straddle almost EVERY time? Say, every hand not in a blind, UTG or UTG+1?

regards,
Tim