Straddling? (1 Viewer)

[trigs]

Do you allow straddles in your home cash games?

If yes, do you allow only UTG straddles? Are button straddles allowed?

Do you do only one straddle allowed or are multiple straddles allowed?

If yes to multiple straddles, do you double them every time (for example, $0.50BB - UTG straddles to $1, next to act straddles to $2, next to $4, etc.) or do you increase them by the amount of the BB (for example, $0.50BB - straddle to $1, next to $1.50, next to $2, etc.)?

According to RROP, only one straddle is allowed, but I think that most of the home games I play in allow multiple straddles. Just curious how others run their home games.

 

[RichMahogany]

We allow as many straddles as players want to put in. Double them each time.

We also do a mandatory straddle on the next hand when an Ace shows up on the board. If two Aces show up, then we double straddle etc.

 

[Lemonzest]

We allow as many straddles as players want to put in. Double them each time.

We also do a mandatory straddle on the next hand when an Ace shows up on the board. If two Aces show up, then we double straddle etc.

This sounds fun...big gambools...

 

[DaSinical1]

As many stradles as possible but every straddle is double the previous one. Typically it naturally caps at around 3. We also do a few bomb pots a night as well.

 

[Coyote]

I never allow that cr@p in my house.
I 'd never allow my children do it either, if I had any

 

[allforcharity]

I never allow that cr@p in my house.
I 'd never allow my children do it either, if I had any

What if the straddler had to drink a shot of Ouzo for the privilege?

 

[BGinGA]

Just say no.

 

[DoubleEagle]

We allow UTG straddles and button straddles. I am not a big fan of them but it if players want to burn their cash so be it.

 

[Frogzilla]

Straddles from UTG, double each time for subsequent straddles. One thing might also bring up- I’ve seen different interpretations of “last action” pre-flop.

Say we have a UTG straddle, a CO open, and a 3-bet from the BB. Some (most?) games action is now on UTG. But I’ve also played in a variant where “last action” means action skips over UTG, and it’s on the cutoff. If CO 4-bets, and BB 5-bets, skips over UTG again. Only when all other pre-flop action is done does UTG have to make a decision

 

[kk405]

Straddle is a super dumb idea. I know people think straddles create more action. But if it does in your game, then you're in the wrong game. Just fix the game/player composition, etc. I know this is a controversial idea and anytime someone is against straddle is called a nit or a tight ass...but that is not always true and straddle isn't generally a good idea for the game (for lots of reasons). when a game is $5/10/$75/$200 and 6 people call, it doesn't need any straddling. When a game is $5/$10/$20, raise to $60 and everyone folds 90% of the time...find yourself a better game.

 

[Rhodeman77]

I only allow UTG straddle and it is to $5 in our $1/2 game. Never a button straddle unless we are 3 handed and the button is UTG. Very rarely someone will double straddle but if it ever became normal I would stop it to just 1 straddle. I’m not a fan of them overall, but if the players want it I will be flexible to an extent.

At the casino they allow button or UTG straddles up to $15 and I hate it.

 

[detroitdad]

I hate a button straddle. I'll allow straddles up. but excluding the button.

 

[Saoliver]

Say no to button straddles.

Min-raise straddles starting with UTG. Sometimes we get 3 or 4 to start a hand. Usually only one or two of us are straddling at all, and usually only when we are stuck and trying to claw back.

After watching some of @kmccormick100 live play, I have been inspired to try bomb pots. My group is cheap and we pretty much play 0.10/0.20 pot limit. I have convince them a few times to do $1 bomb pots every hour. To my surprise, it has been a hit.

 

[detroitdad]

remind me what a bomb pot is again?

 

[Saoliver]

Ante equal to a standard big bet, then deal the flop.

 

[Saoliver]

So in my 0.10/0.20 game, everyone antes $1 and we start with the flop. Plays normal after that.

 

[Trihonda]

Single UTG straddles are allowed in my game. Otherwise, it's just people with money pushing the stakes higher. As stated earlier ITT, if you want to gamble for MORE every hand, then game selection is an issue. For those that are new to straddles, it effectively 'halves' your starting stack. Better players will tell you that the larger the effective stack (compared to the BB), the easier it is to play. And for a game where people aren't super deep, it could hamstring you to cut your effective stack in half.

 

[Han Trinh]

We allow straddling in our game. I think it’s good for the game, it loosens people up. We Increase by the size of the straddle x1 each time to give the game action but not have it get too out of hand.

For our 25c/50c blinds. We use $1, $2, $3, $4 ... etc for each position starting at UTG.

 

[Mojo1312]

I am fully aware of the points people have made against straddling. However, there are players who like to gamble and aren't necessarily interested in rather it is -e.v. They can liven up the game. Secondly, why would you want to prohibit a player from mixing things up out of position?

In my .50/.50 home game, the button could straddle if UTG passed. Both positions acted last. Straddle was capped at 5x the BB. Double straddles were not allowed. Rarely did players straddle for more than $1.50.

To @RichMahogany, I hosted a weekly cash game and a tournament every other week. Towards the end of my time as a host, players who busted out would start a cash game in the other room where I had the second poker table. One night I made it to the end and was thereby the last one to sit in on the cash game. To my surprise, the two loosest players had talked everyone but Dan into agreeing to a mandatory double straddle. Funny, because Dan had an alpha-male type of personality and he and I were the only two who played $1/$2 at the casino with any regularity. I looked across the table at Dan for his reaction because for a split second I thought it was a prank, but Dan had a shocked expression on his face and simply grinned at me like a Cheshire cat when we made eye contact. Being his friend, I decided to join forces with him by not straddling.

I will always remember the look Dan gave m that evening. Like he was a stranger in a strange land playing .50/.50/$1/$2.

 

[Rhodeman77]

Single UTG straddles are allowed in my game. Otherwise, it's just people with money pushing the stakes higher. As stated earlier ITT, if you want to gamble for MORE every hand, then game selection is an issue. For those that are new to straddles, it effectively 'halves' your starting stack. Better players will tell you that the larger the effective stack (compared to the BB), the easier it is to play. And for a game where people aren't super deep, it could hamstring you to cut your effective stack in half.

As a player that feels he is much better than the average player overall, post flop play plays a huge part of my game. As @Trihonda says the straddle cuts the BB of your stack in half. So the game becomes much more shallow and post flop play is diminished dramatically.

Players that want to have multiple straddles are looking to get their stacks in preflop or on the flop at the latest so they can minimize their decisions to be made. It is how losing (bad) players can minimize the edge of good (winning) players.

I want to have stacks to be as deep as possible to give my opponents every opportunity to make the biggest possible mistakes with their stacks.

I.E. I want to play at Bergs March madness game with @MatB and the crew in the NE

 

[davin]

I don’t allow button straddles,
I allow UTG to straddle and so forth we once had
1/3/6/12/24/48 if the right players are sitting next to each other... keep in mind we most times play 11 handed

 

[kk405]

. keep in mind we most times play 11 handed

No offense Davin, but that is just awful, unless it’a a ‘raked’ game. I would never play in an 11-handed game, and nearly always refuse to play in a 10-handed game.

This is just one of the things that make the game bad and I said ‘find a better game’. My preference? Always 8-handed. It’s as close to a ‘short-handed’ game as it gets while being full and satisfying most of the people on the invite list. And I prefer 7 over 9...if you have the right players in your group, you neve need straddling.

 

[DaSinical1]

I'm surprised to see so many people against straddles. But, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Don't get me wrong... I'm not one of those that go straddle happy. But, I find it a useful tool if used right and not very often. One way I use them is if my table talk paints me as a loosy goosy player that night and I want people to think that way I might throw in a straddle UTG for two orbits. That would solidify that I'm playing loose in some players minds. Especially if I had 1 or two shots right before I straddle. All the while I'm actually playing tight but take advantage of position and I can handle my alcohol pretty well.

Then again, my home game is fairly friendly even though we play for decent sized pots. So, I can see if the game is more strict/serious that straddles would be looked down upon. But, at a friendly game a straddle can confuse the hell out of people (when used right and you're still playing a higher range). I mean just yesterday I got paid off for about $150 two hands in a row on a river bet because the other person didn't believe me and thought I was playing way too loose. And, this is about 10 minutes after I double straddled and straddled. Not sure if this made a big difference but I'm pretty sure it played a small part.

 

[honkydevil]

I allow UTG to straddle and so forth we once had
1/3/6/12/24/48 if the right players are sitting next to each other... keep in mind we most times play 11 handed

That’s a good group.

We’ve gotten our .25/.25 game to straddle .50/1/2/4/8/16

I think straddles are entertaining and fun. The downside is I think it makes the newer players uncomfortable.

 

[APatHand]

...
Players that want to have multiple straddles are looking to get their stacks in preflop or on the flop at the latest so they can minimize their decisions to be made. It is how losing (bad) players can minimize the edge of good (winning) players.

Well said.
I think a large percentage of poker "players" are actually just gamblers and so prefer making as few actual decisions as possible.

Early in a tournament the other night a player jammed about 100x the pot on a two-suited straight board. When asked why such a big bet, he said he had flopped a straight and didn't want to get out drawn. basically, he didn't want to have to make the decision to fold a made hand if it became threatened/beaten.

I didn't bother to point out that it was not impossible that someone could have had the same straight and been freerolling for the flush. And when that person called it would open the door to someone with only a flush draw, etc.

 

[kk405]

I'm surprised to see so many people against straddles.

From a pure 'poker' perspective: SB and BB are the two most -EV to play. By allowing button straddles, you will significantly increase the number of hands that both SB and BB will fold pre-flop (that is -EV for the rest of the table in the long run, if they consider themselves to be 'good'/'better-than-average' players). By allowing UTG straddles, if the straddler is deemed to be someone who most of the time raises when it gets to him (after a bunch of limpers or maybe even a raised pot pre-flop, the SB and BB will fold more frequently, again not a good for better players in the game.

Time and again I've seen people announce 'let's do a round of straddle' and then they try to make it permanent, without any consideration for the recs in the game. If you ever want to have a game with a good mix of recs/non-pros, and those who just enjoy playing cards and will donate lots of funds to your game because they are having fun, the last thing you should do is to intimidate them or peer pressure them into things that pros or semi-pros like, such as straddling or even a dumber concept: bomb pots.

If the game is too small and your reason for stradling is to make it bigger, just raise the blinds and make stacks deeper.

 

[CraigT78]

keep in mind we most times play 11 handed

 

[CraigT78]

Straddles are fun. Raising when you straddle is even more fun! We've had a couple of straddles get to $64, but it takes the right players sitting in the right seats. Alcohol and closeness to the end of the game usually encourage more straddles.

 

[DaSinical1]

From a pure 'poker' perspective: SB and BB are the two most -EV to play. By allowing button straddles, you will significantly increase the number of hands that both SB and BB will fold pre-flop (that is -EV for the rest of the table in the long run, if they consider themselves to be 'good'/'better-than-average' players). By allowing UTG straddles, if the straddler is deemed to be someone who most of the time raises when it gets to him (after a bunch of limpers or maybe even a raised pot pre-flop, the SB and BB will fold more frequently, again not a good for better players in the game.

Time and again I've seen people announce 'let's do a round of straddle' and then they try to make it permanent, without any consideration for the recs in the game. If you ever want to have a game with a good mix of recs/non-pros, and those who just enjoy playing cards and will donate lots of funds to your game because they are having fun, the last thing you should do is to intimidate them or peer pressure them into things that pros or semi-pros like, such as straddling or even a dumber concept: bomb pots.

If the game is too small and your reason for stradling is to make it bigger, just raise the blinds and make stacks deeper.

Everyone knows that they are -EV. But, throwing them in every now and then to portray that your a -EV player should be in the book of mixing it up to throw everyone off. Unless you always play with the same people every time. Then there is no point. But the image you portray can/does play allot into it when you have position.

 

[kk405]

Everyone knows that they are -EV. But, throwing them in every now and then to portray that your a -EV player should be in the book of mixing it up to throw everyone off. Unless you always play with the same people every time. Then there is no point. But the image you portray can/does play allot into it when you have position.

I understand your point...But either it's a permanent part of that particular home game or it's not. And for those games that are known to allow straddles, more players end up straddling because of peer pressure (although no one would admit this). And many who like straddling say so proudly as a di*& measuring contest: I am a gambler and your're not.