Straddle Buttons (2 Viewers)

[Saoliver]

I had a crazy idea. I don't know if it is a good idea or not, so please give your opinions.

How about straddle buttons (not button straddles)? Each player starts the cash game with a few of these...maybe 5 each. They can either use them on themselves to straddle in any position (other than the blinds) or force another player to straddle. After playing that straddle button, it is removed from the game.

Has anyone ever done something like this? Is it a terrible idea?

My thought process is that you can limit how often the crazy players are allowed to straddle. Also, you can force the tighter players to straddle occasionally.

 

[Steppenwolf]

I had a crazy idea. I don't know if it is a good idea or not, so please give your opinions.

How about straddle buttons (not button straddles)? Each player starts the cash game with a few of these...maybe 5 each. They can either use them on themselves to straddle in any position (other than the blinds) or force another player to straddle. After playing that straddle button, it is removed from the game.

Has anyone ever done something like this? Is it a terrible idea?

My thought process is that you can limit how often the crazy players are allowed to straddle. Also, you can force the tighter players to straddle occasionally.

Personally I love it. Our nittier players hate the straddle... won't do it themselves because it's not mathematically sound and don't like when others do it because it creates more action than they like to see. But I would definitely be in favor, because it adds another element of fun and gambol.

 

[markleteenie]

Hmm...I don't know if I like that you can use it on others. I think having X number (such as 5) that limits someone's use of it could make sense, but since it is a -EV move, why not just let them do it?

Where do you currently allow the straddle? Only button straddle or UTG?
I think maybe a max number of straddle buttons that can be used against a particular person is a good rule too, or people could gang up on someone.

 

[RocAFella1]

Here’s the rule I use in my cash games:
ACE on the board: Any time any ace(s) is on the community board (flop, turn, and/or river), there will be a mandatory straddle(s) on the next hand. I.e. if there is 1 Ace on the board - single straddle, 2 Aces on the board - double straddle, etc.

 

[Saoliver]

Where do you currently allow the straddle? Only button straddle or UTG?

We currently only allow UTG straddles. Sometimes, we will get 3 straddles in on a hand, and that drives the nittier players crazy! We have recently limited to only 1 straddle per hand.

I see it as a little bit of a fun thing to do to mix it up a bit, like bomb pots.

I also like the idea of limiting the number of times you can play a straddle on someone else. My players are mostly pretty close friends that like to go after each other. I could see us bullying the guy that is stuck bad and punishing him further.

 

[Saoliver]

Here’s the rule I use in my cash games:
ACE on the board: Any time any ace(s) is on the community board (flop, turn, and/or river), there will be a mandatory straddle(s) on the next hand. I.e. if there is 1 Ace on the board - single straddle, 2 Aces on the board - double straddle, etc.

I like this a lot. Might have to try it.

 

[Darson]

It could be fun to have one straddle button and the first straddler has the button tossed into the pot. The winner of that hand gets the straddle button to use when they please. This may be a bit limiting.

Maybe give everyone a straddle chip with it tossed in the pot when used with the hand winner gaining the chip. It'll be a good indicator if someone starts collecting a stack of straddle buttons - shows that straddling is -ev. Or if the straddle buttons pass around a lot then perhaps it'll encourage the non-straddlers to straddle!

 

[RocAFella1]

I like this a lot. Might have to try it.

It’s fun because it sometimes forces the nits to straddle and creates a straddle chain depending where the degens are seated relative to the nits.

Just a quadruple straddle to $16.

 

[Saoliver]

It could be fun to have one straddle button and the first straddler has the button tossed into the pot. The winner of that hand gets the straddle button to use when they please.

I thought about this. Maybe they have to play it within a rotation or something. I just don’t want the nits to win it and sit on it.

 

[Darson]

I thought about this. Maybe they have to play it within a rotation or something. I just don’t want the nits to win it and sit on it.

I think that's exactly what you want - have the nits get the button so that other players can bully them into straddling!

 

[trigs]

Could be interesting but I'd say it definitely depends on your players' preferences.

I still don't understand why some players get so upset when others straddle. Okay, I understand if it's being straddled like 8 times around the table, because that does make a big difference. However, if you only allow UTG straddles, I am perfectly happy to let people put blind money into the pot.

 

[Payback]

Why not just play with a rock? It accomplishes getting a straddle out there and it is paid for at the beginning of the night so the nits are actually paying for it so they don't care.

Bonus points if you use an actually rock like I do.

 

[Saoliver]

Why not just play with a rock? It accomplishes getting a straddle out there and it is paid for at the beginning of the night so the nits are actually paying for it so they don't care.

Bonus points if you use an actually rock like I do.

View attachment 362557

This would work, as it only punishes the winner of a pot. I have head of using a rock before, but didn't think of it. I will try this.

 

[Josh Kifer]

We currently only allow UTG straddles. Sometimes, we will get 3 straddles in on a hand, and that drives the nittier players crazy! We have recently limited to only 1 straddle per hand.

I see it as a little bit of a fun thing to do to mix it up a bit, like bomb pots.

I also like the idea of limiting the number of times you can play a straddle on someone else. My players are mostly pretty close friends that like to go after each other. I could see us bullying the guy that is stuck bad and punishing him further.

I hate staddles and bomb pots. *NITTING INTENSIFIES*

 

[Saoliver]

I hate staddles and bomb pots. *NITTING INTENSIFIES*

You probably hate check-raises too, you nitty nit.

 

[Josh Kifer]

You probably hate check-raises too, you nitty nit.

No. Love those. They are my bread and butter....