The Straddle
 

Ok I have watched HSP, and seen all the straddles people do and stuff but I just don't understand it.

If I go to a casino, do most casinos allow straddles?

And lets say the blinds are 5/10 and somebody straddles, they stick in 20. So everyone has to pay 20, which means like the new BB is 20?

What is the point of the straddle?



Also, at casinos, if we want to run the cards twice will they let me and another player do so if we both want to?

Re: The Straddle
 

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If I go to a casino, do most casinos allow straddles?


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Yes. Some places even let the button straddle. Most places just let the guy in UTG make a "live straddle" meaning that it is like a new big blind and is "live" because the straddler will act "last" preflop instead of the BB.

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And lets say the blinds are 5/10 and somebody straddles, they stick in 20. So everyone has to pay 20, which means like the new BB is 20?


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Yes. That is pretty much it.

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What is the point of the straddle?


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Straddle post from Theory forum.

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Also, at casinos, if we want to run the cards twice will they let me and another player do so if we both want to?

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I haven't done this at my level (5/5 and below). So, I don't know.

Re: The Straddle
 

Straddling means the person under the gun makes a raise before the cards are dealt (or at least before he looks at them).

The raise stands, so the next person to act can call or reraise. When the action gets back around to the straddler, he can reraise again. So even if everyone just calls, he can reraise his own bet.

Some casinos do not allow straddling. They can't stop you from raising blind UTG, but if everyone calls back to you, you cannot reraise your own bet.

The point of the straddle is to create action and to gamb0000000l.

Check out the B&M sticky for a great straddle report.

I know nothing about running it twice.

Edit: LINKY to JSD's Guide to Straddling

Re: The Straddle
 

Generally at the "normal" limits that most of us regular folks play at a casino isn't going to run it twice for you. And if you're paying a time charge some players might not want you eating up their time.

A couple more words about the straddle. As mentioned it is the UTG player that puts up the straddle. It is live and as such you must let the dealer know you're straddling. If he is unaware you straddled then he might just think you opened with a raise. Once UTG straddles, UTG+1 can also straddle, and so on down the line until the pot is capped by straddlers. Now your talking a fun game....lol

And here's a little story that I found amusing playing 3/6 in Reno. The guy to my right wanted to put out a straddle but he was UTG+1 so the dealer informed him he couldn't. He then looks to his right at the UTG player and asks "Will you straddle for me?" UTG silently shook his head side to sde while rolling his eyes

Re: The Straddle
 

Running it twice is usually reserved for high stakes games like PLO. Don't count on it ever happeneing in your local 1-2 or 2-5 NL game.

Re: The Straddle
 

[ QUOTE ]
Ok I have watched HSP, and seen all the straddles people do and stuff but I just don't understand it.

If I go to a casino, do most casinos allow straddles?

And lets say the blinds are 5/10 and somebody straddles, they stick in 20. So everyone has to pay 20, which means like the new BB is 20?

What is the point of the straddle?



Also, at casinos, if we want to run the cards twice will they let me and another player do so if we both want to?

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The straddle is very dependent on where you play. Here in LA at most rooms they allow a live straddle only UTG at 2/3 NLHE and above games. Very high limit games have their own rules. So if you are playing 5/5 (300-500 buyin) at the bike you can straddle to $10 only when you are UTG and there are no double straddles allowed. No low limit NL games in LA allow running it twice, AFAIK.

The purpose of the live straddle is to generate action.

Re: The Straddle
 

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Once UTG straddles, UTG+1 can also straddle, and so on down the line until the pot is capped by straddlers.

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This is dependent on the casino/card room. At Foxwoods they only allow one live straddle, from UTG. I have actually seen a UTG+1 place a blind raise after a live straddle, but he was not given the option of re-raising when it came back to him.

Re: The Straddle
 

A straddle is a third blind or a big big blind, easy.

Will a casino allow you to do anything? Ask them...

Re: The Straddle
 

In bigger NL games (read uncapped 5/10+) the straddle is also used to artificially raise the stakes.

Running it, is generally only going to be allowed or considered by the floor in a time game. In a raked gamed it takes too much time to do and the room looks at it as a loss of income and an increase in hassle/liability.

All you have to do is think back to the last time your table had a 2, 3, or 4 way split pot, and remember how long it took and how likely it was for the dealer to screw it up.

Re: The Straddle
 

JSD's guide is one of the best threads ever on 2p2. You are doing yourself a huge disservice by not reading it.