What does straddle mean?

[Djangopoker]

Hi!

I think a straddle is an extra raise to the left of the BB but what happens and what's the point?

Thanx!

[BradleyT]

It forces everyone to pay double and the straddler has the option to raise after the BB acts.

[Djangopoker]

So in a 2/4 ring game, small blind puts in 2, then the BB puts in 4, and then the straddler puts in 6? And then if everyone calls what happens next round? And when can the straddler look at his cards...

Hope I'm not an idiot.

[AKQJ10]

A straddler means, if you're sitting in one of the two seats to the right of the straddler, ask for a seat change. ;-)

But seriously, you've mostly got it right, except that conventionally the big blind is equal to the small, not the big, bet. So the straddle is twice the big blind, or generally the same as the big bet in fixed limit games.

In your example, $2/4 fixed limit, the small blind is generally $1, the big blind $2, and the straddle $4 (you had the blinds too big). But these conventions can change depending on where you play; anyone know what a straddle at say Mandalay, with $1/$2 blinds at $4/8 would be? I'm thinking $6 in that case, $2 blind + $4 bet.

Yesterday I learned at Foxwoods that the straddler can raise themself. In fact, our man tried straddling once, got two red aces, and straddled every time thereafter. I didn't mind because I was sitting to his left!

In general straddlers just like to gamble and don't care if they're playing +EV (since the straddle can't be a +EV play). Thus you want to be at their table.... just not posting a blind on the hands they're straddling!

[Chris Daddy Cool]

A live stradde happens in live play where UTG, the player to the left of the big blind, volentarily puts in a raise before looking at his cards. He then effectively becomes the big blind preflop because he has the option of re-raising again if he chooses. Generally people do this when they want to gamble and have fun.

[Djangopoker]

Okay, so to be clear...2/4 ring game.

Small is 1, big is 2, straddler is then 4. Everyone calls and it comes back to the straddler-can he then look at his cards before he re-raises (if he chooses...)?

Thanx Again!

[AKQJ10]

[ QUOTE ]
Small is 1, big is 2, straddler is then 4. Everyone calls and it comes back to the straddler-can he then look at his cards before he re-raises (if he chooses...)?

[/ QUOTE ]

Right and yes, respectively.

[CORed]

A straddle is a blind raise by the player to the immediate left of the big blind. Like a blind it is "live": The straddler can raise his own straddle if he likes his hand. In general, it is a foolish thing to do. However, if everyone else is doing it, it might be worthwhile to go along to keep the game loose. People generally straddle because they want to GAMBOOL!

[CORed]

I don't know about the Mandalay game, but in 2-5 spread limit, as played in Colorado, there is a single blind, which may be anywhere from $2-$5. If the blind is $2 (typical, though some people will post more, God knows why), the straddle may be anywere from $4 to $7($2 original bet + $2-$5. Any straddle or raise must be at least the amount of the previous bet or raise, and can be as much as $5.

[dakine]

[ QUOTE ]
A straddle is a blind raise by the player to the immediate left of the big blind. Like a blind it is "live": The straddler can raise his own straddle if he likes his hand. In general, it is a foolish thing to do. However, if everyone else is doing it, it might be worthwhile to go along to keep the game loose. People generally straddle because they want to GAMBOOL!

[/ QUOTE ]

He only becomes a "Stradler" if he does not look at his hand and raises $4 (2/4) and can reraise when the round goes back to him, is that correct?

He is not a "Stradler" if he looks at his hand and raises to $4 (2/4)everyone calls, round goes back to him, he cannot reraise, is that correct?

WTF makes up these rules? /images/graemlins/confused.gif /images/graemlins/tongue.gif /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

It's a blind raise by the player to the left of the BB. It's actually called a "live" straddle because if the raise is only called when the action gets back to the straddler, he has the option to reraise.

Which, by the way, is why if you choose to play against a straddler, raise him.