Live straddle.
 

UTG is on fire and has won several pots in a row, however, his last win was not enough to qualify for a kill pot so to compensate(he really wanted to kill) he sais "then I straddle". He is a very good player. He is selective but slightly on the loose side. He is very aggressive post flop and capable of making plays. Suffice it to say he never misses a value bet. He is also capable of making big laydowns. I have never seen him straddle before so I don't know if he is the type to not look at his cards and raise when given his option. I suspect he will be more prudent but will certainly raise if he has something remotely big or suited or paired.

UTG+1 calls(He is tight and good), MP1 calls(He is tight and good), MP2 calls(He is horrific), and it is to me in the Hijack. I have KdJs. I would normally call here or raise but given that I will have to pay extra to limp in and the possiblility of the straddler exercising his option does this make it a fold? The remaining players are a mix of tight and somewhat loose.

Re: Live straddle.
 

Are you ahead of UTG+1 or MP1's range? If so, I would call. If they're the type to treat live straddles almost like cold-calling raises, you could muck.

But if they were any good, they should have 3-bet preflop whatever they're limping with here.

Re: Live straddle.
 

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But if they were any good, they should have 3-bet preflop whatever they're limping with here.

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not necessarily true.

Re: Live straddle.
 

UTG+1 is solid and seems to play well, however, he doesn't always make the theoretically correct play preflop. He could have a hand like KQ, 88, suited connectors. MP1 probably would have raised or folded if He were the first in but could be overlimping with middle suited connectors, middle pairs etc.

Re: Live straddle.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
But if they were any good, they should have 3-bet preflop whatever they're limping with here.

[/ QUOTE ]

not necessarily true.

[/ QUOTE ]

word. 3-betting 98s would be on the spew side.

Re: Live straddle.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
But if they were any good, they should have 3-bet preflop whatever they're limping with here.

[/ QUOTE ]

not necessarily true.

[/ QUOTE ]

word. 3-betting 98s would be on the spew side.

[/ QUOTE ]

Personally, I think with all the dead money in there they should either 3-bet with a reasonable hand to isolate the 3 random hands or fold. 3-bet makes it very difficult for any marginal hand to cold-call or raise. You can 3-bet with something like AT or 77, but it's very difficult to call 3 or 4-bet with such hands.

I don't see live straddles as the type of hands you want to get involved with multi-way type hands (small pairs, suited connectors) because people are more reluctant to put in big bets with marginal hands (as they should), so it's less likely to become a 4/5+ way pot. 98s is a fold for me from up front with a live straddle.

Live straddle is different from just doubling the stakes because the blinds are small in relation to the preflop bet.

My .02.

Re: Live straddle.
 

personally i would fold more hands on a straddle, but if you anticipate a good multiway pot i think it's a mistake to be 3-betting a hand like QJs upfront. the first coldcall typically will induce coldcalling behind you.

Re: Live straddle.
 

Ok, CDC is right if you're anticipating SSHE type behavior at the table (i.e. multi-way limpers behind in a straddled pot).