Playing with, "a Rock" - Straddle?

[StrayBullet]

I've done a search, so sorry if it's been hased, shuffle off to Beginner's if need be [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

I understand what a "rock" is but I'm unclear as to how it "creates action."

When does the rock ever get converted or come off the table, if nobody ever really "wins" the extra chips, then what's the incentive?

[Red Stine]

In Tunica at the Horseshoe they play 20-40 with the rock--on occasion. Here's how it works:

First of all a couple of players will start talking about it. Then they will ask the whole table to see if there are any objectors. If there are none (and sometimes if there is one), someone will rubber band $40 together and when it is their turn to straddle they will straddle with the rock.

Now whoever wins the rock must put it in the pot when it is their turn to straddle. It doesn't stay in every pot. It only ends up going in about once a round--and only in the straddle position.

Also, if someone wants to quit with the rock they can, and if someone decides they don't want to put it in they can simply take off the rubber band and keep the money.

It will often happen that a new player won't want to play with the rock, and if they win it they will just keep it.

I've also played in games with two rocks.

Ironically, a rock is usually put into the game when it isn't really needed.

When they played with the rock in Biloxi, before Katrina, they had two seperate lists--one for the rock and for no rock. They even had a set of rules for playing with the rock. For example if it is a split pot then the person who would be first to straddle gets the rock.

Etc., etc.

[LovinItAll]

[ QUOTE ]
In Tunica at the Horseshoe they play 20-40 with the rock--on occasion. Here's how it works....

[/ QUOTE ]

A side note on straddling at the 'Shoe in Tunica: A player (at least at the NL tables) can straddle from ANY position. They have even given it a name---

You guessed it....the Mississippi Straddle!

As far as I know, it's only at the Horseshoe. At the Grand, they will only allow UTG to straddle......

[RR]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
In Tunica at the Horseshoe they play 20-40 with the rock--on occasion. Here's how it works....

[/ QUOTE ]

A side note on straddling at the 'Shoe in Tunica: A player (at least at the NL tables) can straddle from ANY position. They have even given it a name---

You guessed it....the Mississippi Straddle!

As far as I know, it's only at the Horseshoe. At the Grand, they will only allow UTG to straddle......

[/ QUOTE ]

MS straddle was originally in PLO games. I understand it has spread to NL as well. It is permitted in a number of venues, not limited to MS. It has been allowed in the past at the Grand. I think the current administration at the Grand is lacking in expereince and knowledge of poker.

[RUFFNECK]

When I played alot in Houston private club games, "Rock" games and Miss. Straddle where very common.

In a normal casino game I can see a single "Rock" helping spice up one or two hands a orbit and being decent for the action of the game.

In the games I played in which had a much higher rake than normal B&M, they would put in "rocks" to help boost the action, but more so to help maximize the rake, bottom line.

Stine says he played with 2 rocks, I have played some really greedily run games that had 5 and 6 "rocks" in play with that huge Houston rake.

[dcb777]

We have used the Rock in Foxwoods 20-40 games. If everybody agrees each player puts up a $5 chip and we wrap it in a band. Whoever wins that first pot puts up "the rock" when it is their natural staddle position namely when they are under the gun. I have seen somewhat tight games explode into 6 players seeing the flop in every "rock hand". Good players usually do not let the rock influence their play, but everyone 3 bets and calls 3 bets lighter and frequently the player who has the rock calls however many bets cold just in hopes of retaining the rock. The rock definetly has a positive loose influence in games, but just don't lower your standards too much. you can 3 bet when first in a bit lighter but don't deviate from your normal preflop standards too much.

[Mr.K]

No discussion of live straddling with "THE ROCK" is complete without at least a passing reference to the LEGENDARY "JSD's guide to straddling at low-limits," a discussion that took place right here on 2+2 a few years ago. Participants included BisonBison, NPA, bakku, and other well-known posters. Truly an amazing, educational read. Here it is: JSD's guide to straddling.

[StrayBullet]

WOW, thanks for the replies!

But there's still one thing missing:

Is there a pre-determined time the rock comes off the table? How is it decided how to stop playing the rock? Wouldn't just keeping the rock, piss off the rest of the table?

Seems to me, even though it's not involved in every hand, it's never really part of the players stack...thanks!

[usaftrevor]

we use a $4 rock in our $1/$2 NL game. It generally goes into the first pot of the night and is on the table until the game breaks. Throughout the game, it never comes off the table, but players are allowed to sell it. They can demand the $4 face-value if they're selling it... but most are just happy to watch it go away and get $3 out of the deal.

If you've got it when the game breaks, you get $4 for it.

It does wonders for the action in the game. To go from $1/$2 NL EVERY hand to $1/$2/$4 NL once or twice an orbit makes a big difference.

[usaftrevor]

One night I was at a $2/$5 NL game that had a $10 rock. One player, accustomed to $10/$20 and $20/$40 NL, he enjoyed to have the rock whenever possible, sometimes paid more than the $10 face-value for it. When he held the rock UTG+1, he'd give it to the UTG player for free, and put a live $20 re-straddle out there.

Glad I was dealing and not playing in that one. Or am I?