Is it worth it to straddle the button? (20 Viewers)

[NeutronHim]

This is the sort of question that the average poker player is poor at conceptualizing, and if you want an actionable answer you should really be asking a different (math- or programming) crowd. There are a few interesting considerations I'd like to point out without giving an answer.

1) Dr. Strange's argument regarding bounding the range of +EV straddles and stack depths is very relevant. I too would pay 1.01BB for a straddle at 100BB.

2) In games where equity runs close, every additional bit of info on a future street is huge. Pot limit games increase button edge further. Eg playing DBBP against a nit who pots it into 8 players OTF and always just has top set, and when we have many draws its easy to flat and then play against a condensed range on draw completing runouts.

3) This means that against a table that often makes small bets <50% pot in NLH, it's easily +EV to button straddle. Also in games where pots often go multiway, straddling becomes even better because you get even *more* info on each street.

I think this covers a LOT of live poker. At private punty home games, doubling the stakes is basically always +EV. At fishy casinos where there is a decent amount of depth where players are just cold calling a 5-straddle open, button straddling is probably +EV. If players are somewhat decent at the game (most pots are HU) or the game is 100BB deep, you might consider not button straddling.

 

[Mojo1312]

I ban all straddles in my house

Your wife doesn't have a say?

 

[Mojo1312]

This thread needs to be moved to the noobs and nits subsection.

 

[Coyote]

Your wife doesn't have a say?

She is a totally and even hysterically anti-straddle person.

 

[Mojo1312]

Straddles are internet/tv gambling schtick people saw in those old “high stakes” poker TV games and now do it becasue they think it makes them look aggressive and reckless in a cool way. Bottom straddles are the dumbest type

AC and Vegas don’t have button straddles. I saw it first two weeks ago a crappy and horribly run poker room in PA. The same poker room that had four tables but only two active 10 handed with 6 on the wait list and third dealer looking at their phone. The worst players I’ve ever scene playing poker. 7 people seeing a flop and stacks just moving around between the morons. I associate button straddles with places like this

Stacks moving around amongst the worst players you have ever seen, you say? Sounds horrible! No fun and negative ev for sure! I wish I had your knack for avoiding an awful time. Unfortunately, I lack that kind of discipline. Hee-haw!

 

[JMGill12]

Personally, I find that they kill action and are bad for the game. Turns the SB into basically dead money, and the BB only slightly better.

If others are doing it, I do it too, but I don't support them.

 

[Old State]

Stacks moving around amongst the worst players you have ever seen, you say? Sounds horrible! No fun and negative ev for sure! I wish I had your knack for avoiding an awful time. Unfortunately, I lack that kind of discipline. Hee-haw!

Ughhh …..ok I think you are reading into something that wasn’t implied…but