Cash Game Your stance on straddles (2 Viewers)

[honkydevil]

Straddles? Hell yeah!

Half the people at my home game want to play small stakes and half the people want to play bigger. So we play small blinds but I tell them they can straddle as often as they want starting at under the gun, 2x the big blind and double triple quadruple straddle from there.

It's fun playing .10/.25/.50/1/2/4 blinds... or is that just me?

Also, we're playing PLO so we're all degens.

Correct me if I'm wrong but button straddles provide an advantage to skilled players that use them and disadvantage to the less skilled players having to deal with it. I feel like that makes it a negative on allowing it at the "friendly" homegame while bringing in new players.

 

[Jimulacrum]

Correct me if I'm wrong but button straddles provide an advantage to skilled players that use them and disadvantage to the less skilled players having to deal with it. I feel like that makes it a negative on allowing it at the "friendly" homegame while bringing in new players.

I agree, and for this reason I'm not a huge fan of button straddles. If the game is such that a straddle is advantageous, the skilled player has quite enough of an edge. Allowing him to press that edge from the button as well is just not good for the game.

 

[Mojo1312]

What are your stances on straddling in a cash game? I've been reading different articles recently regarding this topic so I am curious to know what the varying opinions are amongst players.

They are fine. Chuckles at the players who let their noses get tweaked by players who exercise their option.

If it's in the rules, sure. But I don't have to like it and I don't have to allow it at my game either. But why straddle in the first place? What's the point other than to make that hand, in general, more expensive for the table?

I think the answer to your last question may be hiding somewhere in your post.

I have played Hold-em with someone who feels the same way you do. I believe you two may be closely related. MrFoldyPants.

 

[JustinInMN]

disagree. The cost to play a hand has increased before any cards have even been seen. If he wants to raise blind (and not also gain a last-to-act advantage in the process), fine.

But it certainly does increase the cost to play, even though the base stakes remains the same.

I disagree with charachterizing this as a "change in stakes." A player raising can make it the exact same price whether or not the player looks at their hole cards. The argument I suppose is over this action remaining "live." (Meaning he still has an opportunity to raise.)

it's in the rules, sure. But I don't have to like it and I don't have to allow it at my game either. But why straddle in the first place?

That's true. And I am curious how it started. I guess casinos saw players doing it and realized encouraging it is good for action.

I think it's funny. The guys in my home game think I HATE straddles, because I never straddle myself, and I often complain when they do. But honestly, I like it when people straddle, for the reasons others have said - I get to look at my cards before deciding to play at higher stakes - I think that's great.

Haha this is the right way to handle it.

 

[MrCatPants]

I think the answer to your last question may be hiding somewhere in your post.

I have played Hold-em with someone who feels the same way you do. I believe you two may be closely related. MrFoldyPants.

I've watched players get tweaked by it and leave games permanently when someone new comes to straddle every possible hand in a small stakes home game and accordingly dont allow it when I started up my game. I'd personally never play at a table where I wasn't comfortable enough with the stakes to play aggressively - it's not about my preference as a player, but what straddles can do to games when you have an incompatible player show up.

And name calling and condescension on the internet is super cool.

 

[Schmendr1ck]

I answered the poll "situational."

As a rule I don't straddle. However, I will occasionally do so if I think my image is too tight, or if the table agrees to a round of straddles.

OTOH, at a drunken home game or a meetup, a quadruple straddle is never out of the question.

 

[mashoo]

As host, if I'm up a couple buy-in's, running hot, I'll straddle to "lose" some money back to the pot and I'm ok with it being -ev. Especially for home games, whatever works to keep the game fun.

 

[Old State]

Super dopey. To me it qualifies as bad “poker shtick”.

 

[trigs]

Straddles are absolutely -EV. I allow them in my home game and they must be from UTG in increments of the blinds.

I will straddle occasionally when I'm in the mood to gamble. I host $0.25-$0.25 and $0.50-$0.50 cash games and have seen straddles all the way around to the dealer.

I don't agree with some people who say straddles just mean the game is too low. Degen is going to degen. I know this (looks at self in mirror).

 

[Poker Zombie]

Straddles are great for the game. It pushes players that are not comfortable playing at higher levels right out of the game. Don't like paying for 2x as much as you should, go away. Quit poker. Poker has too many players anyway. Everyone should straddle and then we can get all the fish to stop playing. Who want's new players anyway? That would possibly lead to a resurgence in poker, and we certainly don't want that.

#MoreRakeIsBetter

 

[200 Motels]

Our 25c/25c game has unlimited straddles to the button and almost every pot is straddled so the only time I don't straddle is if I know someone is going to double straddle. I'd rather be the quadruple straddle than the straddle who gets double straddled. Since there's no cap on the buyin at our game, the straddle is kind of a capitalist way of letting the game decide what stakes we're playing. One hand it could be 25/25c, next hand it could be 25/25/50/1/2/4.

 

[Mojo1312]

I've watched players get tweaked by it and leave games permanently when someone new comes to straddle every possible hand in a small stakes home game and accordingly dont allow it when I started up my game. I'd personally never play at a table where I wasn't comfortable enough with the stakes to play aggressively - it's not about my preference as a player, but what straddles can do to games when you have an incompatible player show up.

And name calling and condescension on the internet is super cool.

Not directed solely at you.

Any action that is -ev is good for the other players in the hand. Fact. Fact number two. Poker is a game of aggression.

So why are people upset?

Could be the buy-in is set too low in relation to the blinds or the other players at the table are weak and easily exploitable. (Perhaps both.)

I don't straddle unless I am bored and want to switch things up, which rarely happens. However, I love it when there is someone who likes to straddle every hand. Eliminating it from the game or to refrain from inviting a player who like to straddle is ridiculous. If something so small can easily disrupt a persons game, then maybe that individual should find another game to play like checkers or tic-tac-toe. Clearly, their inability to adjust means Hold-em is too complicated a game for them.

And to clear the air. I am guilty of being condescending, but not of name calling.

 

[Mojo1312]

Straddles are great for the game. It pushes players that are not comfortable playing at higher levels right out of the game. Don't like paying for 2x as much as you should, go away. Quit poker. Poker has too many players anyway. Everyone should straddle and then we can get all the fish to stop playing. Who want's new players anyway? That would possibly lead to a resurgence in poker, and we certainly don't want that.

#MoreRakeIsBetter

Just read this.. Please ignore my previous previous post.

 

[upNdown]

I've seen guys brag about how much action their game has, and they'll say that every hand is straddled. To me, that says your stakes are too low. But I know there are some people who like to be splashy and get a lot of action and generally play like maniacs - there's a place in the poker world for that, and it is certainly in somebody's basement. And if you're really there just to splash it around and bust your friends' balls, it makes sense to have the stakes stepped down a notch.
I can see the fun in that, but it's not my preferred game.

 

[Payback]

Straddles are fun as hell. Nothing like putting out the $32 straddle in a 0.25/0.50 game. Yes, they change the stakes, but for only as long as people want to put them out. I found even the nits didn't mind too much as they too can wake up with a premium hand with the straddle on.

I only allowed them from UTG and working around from there. In the casino I'm currently playing at they allow them starting with the button and working backwards. I'm less of a fan of that and although don't mind them in the casino, wouldn't want that in a home game.

 

[pltrgyst]

I don't mind straddles in casinos, but I never allowed them in my home game, simply because they drive some less affluent players away. Sometimes regular players are hard to come by....

 

[v1pe]

I love them personally. It creates more action while allowing for deeper stack play. We also play mandatory straddles for ace(s) on the board. One ace, one straddle. Four aces, four straddles.

It actually makes play more shallow by raising the effective stakes and lowering SPR. Not that that's a bad thing, but you should adjust accordingly.

 

[v1pe]

I think @Jimulacrum has it correct.

I like straddles because it effectively increases the stakes and decreases the effective stack to pot ratio for the hand, and it often causes players to make mistakes due to the change in game flow and the change in effective SPR.

Plus it generally creates more action, which is fun IMO.

 

[Mojo1312]

I don't mind straddles in casinos, but I never allowed them in my home game, simply because they drive some less affluent players away. Sometimes regular players are hard to come by....

Curious. What is the buy-in and what are the blinds?

 

[RocAFella1]

It actually makes play more shallow by raising the effective stakes and lowering SPR. Not that that's a bad thing, but you should adjust accordingly.

I meant the initial blinds allows for deeper play. People can just straddle if they wish to make the game bigger, but the game starts out deep.

 

[Lemonzest]

strattles are the best. drink and straddle ...probably a fun night of poker

 

[v1pe]

I meant the initial blinds allows for deeper play. People can just straddle if they wish to make the game bigger, but the game starts out deep.

Ahh, yeah I see what you are saying. (y) :thumbsup:

 

[Pesto628]

If you’re trying to win I would never straddle, definitely -ev. If someone else wants to straddle then that’s good for me. If you’re just looking to make a game more interesting then go for it.

 

[Lemonzest]

Straddles are absolutely -EV. I allow them in my home game and they must be from UTG in increments of the blinds.

I will straddle occasionally when I'm in the mood to gamble. I host $0.25-$0.25 and $0.50-$0.50 cash games and have seen straddles all the way around to the dealer.

I don't agree with some people who say straddles just mean the game is too low. Degen is going to degen. I know this (looks at self in mirror).

Straddles are not always -ev. As with everything in poker....depends on the situation and players.

 

[pltrgyst]

Curious. What is the buy-in and what are the blinds?

Ten players, 25/.50, max buy-in 200BB. Not sue those are effective barometers, though. Big winners sometimes exceeded $1500.

 

[Mojo1312]

Ten players, 25/.50, max buy-in 200BB. Not sue those are effective barometers, though. Big winners sometimes exceeded $1500.

So you fear the less affluent players from your group will stop attending your home game if others are allowed to straddle?

I am trying to picture this scenario. There is thousands of dollars in play with .25/.50 blinds and you are concerned that a straddle option will drive your "less affluent players" away.

 

[TheDeezer]

Straddles regardless of stakes create a very good dunamic for more strategic play as there is more $$ in play before cards are dealt - i prefer playing deep ( 2/5/10) which is mandatory and most are in for $1000 . The key to this is simple Ranges open and all the dead money = more folks wanting to see flops. The game plays different but i take the game in doses and it plays much bigger. Sometimes I just want to chill have a cocktail and enjoy the session.

Games with a straddle are great. Just require my A game and prepared for 3k swings

 

[Old State]

There are some seriously wacky games played here. $.25/.50 games with unlimited straddles and others with big winners cashing out with $1500! I wouldn’t have thought it possible to win or lose more than $200 in a $.25/.50 game.

 

[Mojo1312]

There are some seriously wacky games played here. $.25/.50 games with unlimited straddles and others with big winners cashing out with $1500! I wouldn’t have thought it possible to win or lose more than $200 in a $.25/.50 game.

Yep. This forum is full of surprises

Lol, I’ve regularly played in a .25/.50 game that had $1500-1600 at each seat.

.

 

[upNdown]

There are some seriously wacky games played here. $.25/.50 games with unlimited straddles and others with big winners cashing out with $1500! I wouldn’t have thought it possible to win or lose more than $200 in a $.25/.50 game.

Yup. I've won over $200 playing .25/.50 only 5 or 6 handed.