Terms Defined Please...

Where is the cutoff? And is UTG three off the dealer button, next to the big blind? And what is a straddle? Thanks for your help.

Under The Gun: First to act preflop. First position left of the big blind.


Cutoff: Position just right of the button.


Straddle: Unsure, never played with one, but my girlfriend loves this one!

Straddle is basically raising in the dark preflop. Only the UTG player can declare a live straddle, since the hand must go in order. If the UTG declares a straddle, the next player could theoretically declare a straddle also.


So, player A (who must be UTG) says, "Live straddle" in your local 3/6 game. He then places $6 out before he is dealt cards. At that point (after cards dealt), the next player either calls $6, raises to $9, or folds.


Believe it or not, in my very limited casino experience, I've played a hand with three live straddles (so, UTG, UTG+1, and UTG+2 all decided to raise before they saw their cards)...it was capped before anyone saw their cards preflop.


That help?


Mojay

What would be the purpose of straddling, other than making a big pot? Are you still allowed the same maximum number of raises prior to the flop? Am I missing something?


Thanks--


RockLobster

jacks the stakes up, so to speak. gets the weak players out. at least this seems to be the fuzzy thinking that straddlers use. it basically creates action. there is no real good strategic reason to do it. in fact, putting extra money in the pot with 2 random cards in bad position is not a good idea at all, and should never be done.


and of course when i say never, i mean that it may be 'correct' to do so if it will help keep the game lively, or even jumpstart the livelihood of the game, or be used for deceptive purposes. but it aint gonna be +EV if you do it every time you're UTG.