What does \"to straddle\" mean?
 

Okay, I'm slowly learning the NLHE poker lingo (can girls be balla?), but I haven't quite grasped what straddling is. When and why and how is it played?

Re: What does \"to straddle\" mean?
 

Straddle

Poker Glossary

A straddle is a blind bet made by the person under the gun. A straddle bet is equivalent to two big blinds. The person who posts the straddle gets to bet last in the preflop round. A straddle is very ill-advised in a limit game because you are unnecessarily posting a large blind bet out of position. Straddles are more common for games such as pot limit Omaha, where the straddle acts to increase the stakes of the game.

http://www.pokertips.org/glossary/w/STRADDLE

Re: What does \"to straddle\" mean?
 

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Straddle

Poker Glossary

A straddle is a blind bet made by the person under the gun. A straddle bet is equivalent to two big blinds. The person who posts the straddle gets to bet last in the preflop round. A straddle is very ill-advised in a limit game because you are unnecessarily posting a large blind bet out of position. Straddles are more common for games such as pot limit Omaha, where the straddle acts to increase the stakes of the game.


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Definition is correct so I don't know why they messed up the part I bolded. You're actually posting double big blind bet. Maybe they're just using large in a generic sense....

And in NL the straddle can be more than double the BB. Double the BB would be the minimum you could straddle for.

Re: What does \"to straddle\" mean?
 

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Okay, I'm slowly learning the NLHE poker lingo (can girls be balla?), but I haven't quite grasped what straddling is. When and why and how is it played?

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It can be played in live cahs games, and has the effect ofmaking the pot bigger PF so there is lots more action. They use it all the time on High Stakes Poker (tv show). Degens like Farha and Eli love it; nits like Laak and Todd Brunson refuse to do it.

Re: What does \"to straddle\" mean?
 

If you're under the gun and you choose to straddle, do you have to announce it before your cards are dealt?

Re: What does \"to straddle\" mean?
 

Good question. I don't think so, but the dealer generally will as you need to get your bet out there pre deal.

Gregorio- On HSP since (most) everyone is straddling it practically becomes a game with 3 blinds. Since action isn't really an issue it's more of a way to just increase the stakes without actually raising the blinds. And the tighter players are wise not to straddle.

Also, there can be mutliple straddles. In limit this could extend all the way to the cap. Say its a 3/6 game and a bet and 4 raises is allowed. UTG straddles for 6, UTG+1 can straddle for 9......all the way to MP2 straddling for 15.

Re: What does \"to straddle\" mean?
 

You have to straddle before you see your cards right?

Re: What does \"to straddle\" mean?
 

You're a girl?

Re: What does \"to straddle\" mean?
 

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You have to straddle before you see your cards right?

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That's what I'm asking. Is the action: blinds are posted, straddle is posted, cards are dealt

Or is it: blinds are posted, cards are dealt, under the gun announces straddle and posts straddle

Sorry if it sounds dumb, but it's not clear from the definition.

Re: What does \"to straddle\" mean?
 

I agree it is unclear and I play exclusively online and have never seen straddle done before.

Re: What does \"to straddle\" mean?
 

straddle is announced before the cards are dealt

Re: What does \"to straddle\" mean?
 

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You have to straddle before you see your cards right?
That's what I'm asking. Is the action: blinds are posted, straddle is posted, cards are dealt

Or is it: blinds are posted, cards are dealt, under the gun announces straddle and posts straddle



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If you're under the gun (1st to act) preflop, what does it matter if you announce a straddle before the cards are dealt or put the money out there after the fact? You're going to, in effect, raise one x's the Big Blind anyways and be "last to act" preflop.
If you put it in either before or while the cards are being dealt, it will be termed a straddle. If you put it in after the cards are out, whether you look at your cards or not, it will be termed a raise.
But, in effect, there is no difference.

It's annoying for me, b/c I'm a tight player, for there to be a straddle. Loose players often try to talk the entire table into doing this, which can be effective for them, b/c who wants to be the lone guy saying no. In this case, I often fall under the peer pressure. I've noticed though, that this makes blind stealing a bit sweeter, so if noone or just one has come in and I have position, I'll raise. Sometime guys act like it's a dirty thing to do. I get a feeling from some of these loose guys like they just want everyone to match the straddle, limp, and see a flop. They love family pots.
If somebody, out of the blue, straddles, is it fair play to raise from the button and take advantage of that extra money placed out of position?
It's like they act as if they're doing the game a favor, or some societal contribution by putting in a straddle, so they act like you're insulting them by taking advantage of this (raising them when they're out o' pos.)
Is it wrong to punish them for putting in a straddle?

Re: What does \"to straddle\" mean?
 

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If you put it in either before or while the cards are being dealt, it will be termed a straddle. If you put it in after the cards are out, whether you look at your cards or not, it will be termed a raise.
But, in effect, there is no difference.

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There is a very big difference. If you min-raise UTG and get a caller, you can't re-raise. If you straddle, your bet is "live" and even if you get callers, you can raise again, just like the BB.

Re: What does \"to straddle\" mean?
 

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You have to straddle before you see your cards right?

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That's what I'm asking. Is the action: blinds are posted, straddle is posted, cards are dealt

Or is it: blinds are posted, cards are dealt, under the gun announces straddle and posts straddle

Sorry if it sounds dumb, but it's not clear from the definition.

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The straddle is simply a new BB that is double the old BB. As such, you must say you are straddling and post that amount before cards are dealt.

You can't get to see your cards before you straddle just like the BB doesn't have a choice of posting if he doesn't like his cards.

If you get dealt cards and then say straddle, not everyone will know for sure if you looked at your cards first. As well, you can't just put out 2xBB because that is essentially a min-raise in the dark, not a straddle. Tell the dealer you are straddling before he starts dealing and he will tell the other players.

Re: What does \"to straddle\" mean?
 

Well, you generally shouldn't expect people to be happy when you make a +EV play at their expense. Personally I don't mind the straddle, especially if I read a table as tight but lucrative if I can get some action started. Heck, I'm liable to start it in that case.

I'm always willing to invest a few bucks in making a game play more to my liking, I'll make it back.

Re: What does \"to straddle\" mean?
 

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There is a very big difference. If you min-raise UTG and get a caller, you can't re-raise. If you straddle, your bet is "live" and even if you get callers, you can raise again, just like the BB.

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Yeah, I dunced that one, thanks.

Re: What does \"to straddle\" mean?
 

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If somebody, out of the blue, straddles, is it fair play to raise from the button and take advantage of that extra money placed out of position?

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Totally. If I'm first in I'm raising. And I'm almost raising with any hand I'd play in this situation no matter what. This applies to kill pots also.

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Is it wrong to punish them for putting in a straddle?

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No. See above. They wanted action. Well they got it...lol

Re: What does \"to straddle\" mean?
 

Can anyone else also straddle besides UTG? Can UTG+1 re-straddle?

Re: What does \"to straddle\" mean?
 

once the player on your right straddles, you can straddle as well by doubling the last amount.

so UTG straddles for 2BB, UTG+1 straddles for 4BB and so on...

and you have to announce a straddle before the cards are dealt.

I like to straddle in live games when the aggressive preflop raisers are on my left, since I cant limp w/ drawing hands, being last to act protects me from limp/folding.