Live Straddle

[Shaun004]

Why do people do this? And what, if any, advantage does it give the player?

[CaryDarling]

I only do it to liven a rocky game up.
I've been in really tight games where within 1-2 orbits of doing this, 9 out of 10 people at the table are straddling,a nd cheering the 10th to do it as well.

Eventually the party is on, the drinks are flowing, and so are the chips.

Another reason to do this is to give out some kind of loose image.

[HoldemPokerPlyr]

Haha I throw in a live straddle for different things. Sometimes I feel like putting more money in the pot and sometimes if I feel like somebody said a bad joke I'll put the straddle on.

-HoldemPokerPlyr

[suited89]

how do straddles work really? Do you have to announce it to the dealer or do you just put it out there?

[samsdmf]

I play them in home games, just to liven action up, and in general its probably +EV for me becuase most of the guys I play with in the home game are so bad post flop

[Dsperz]

sometimes if I'm am in a pretty tight game and have been catching cold cards I will straddle. If I get 3 or 4 people to call I will put a large raise in with my option, or even move all in knowing that none of them can call, and this allows me to pick up a pot with little risk. You have to be careful with the all-in move though, because someone will catch on.

[MtDon]

[ QUOTE ]
how do straddles work really? Do you have to announce it to the dealer or do you just put it out there?

[/ QUOTE ]

Where I play, you just have to put the chips out there. But it probably depends on the house rules.

I always announce a straddle anyway, to call attention to it. If you are straddling to loosen up the game or to give a loose image, you want to be sure everyone knows it.

Some casinos allow only one straddle, others allow as many as players want. For example in a 2, 4 game: 1st pos(SB) - 1; 2nd pos(BB) - 2; 3rd pos - 4; 4th pos - 6; 5th pos - 8; etc, until the next player does't straddle, or the button straddles. I've been in games where there were 3 to 4 straddles at certain points in the game. Obviously, for this to happen there have to be several wild players (usually drunk) seated next to each other.

I have also been told of places where any player could straddle any amount from any position, even if no one had straddled before them. These were stories about poker in Montana in the 1970's or 80's.


-- Don

[killsadie]

worst play in poker, if youre serious about winning money its the dumbest thing you can do. if youre looking for a good time and are black/asian, right up your alley!

[Trae3ab]

Some purposes of the straddle are:

* Loosen up a tight game.
* You are buying the button and preflop position.
* You are advertising with this play as a loose player.

It sets you up for a possible big pot or to steal a mediocre pot preflop.


This is an action inducing play.



Spitting in a wishing well,
Trae

[Pscam10]

I understand some peoples reasoning behind the straddle, but i still think its an overall bad play.

Just my 2 cents