The new trend at my casino

[Cactus Cactus]

I mostly play on the internet however when I do play live, I play at a 60-120 game at a casino near my house. This 60-120 game is usually easily beatable, however lately there has been a new structure change.

What everyone loves to do is to play, "Everyone Must Straddle" I have my opinions on what this option does for the game I want to know what others think

Is this game more/less profitable?
What is the strategy to beat this game?

[NLSoldier]

its awesome.

[Ulysses]

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its awesome.

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What do you think of the one guy who says he won't straddle?

[phish]

I disagree that it's +EV. It increases the luck element in the game substantially.
The biggest advantage the expert player has is the ability to outplay his opponents post-flop, which often means folding when they would've called. Dumping more money in pre-flop (without any chance of eliminating players) before the major luck factor (the flop) has hit, you are reducing you post-flop edge significantly.
And if you think you can make up the post-flop loss with pre-flop tightness, all that means is that you'll be able to play fewer hands, which is more boring AND less profitable.
To illustrate by using an extreme: Imagine playing a 50/100 game with a 1000 ante. How much skill is there in that game? It'd be completely unplayable from a +EV point of view.

[AceHigh]

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I disagree that it's +EV. It increases the luck element in the game substantially.

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I don't think so. It really hurts hands that rely on implied odds, hands like small pairs and suited connectors. The good player can now raise the straddle and charge the bad players even more to try and draw out on him.

Your premium hands really go up in value, the loose/bad players won't adjust and will play there normal game and hands that are small mistakes will be medium mistakes.

[Ryno]

Think about high limit stud - the proportionally increasing antes are done to neutralize the advantage of good players so that the game can exist. A forced straddle should have the same effect.

[NLSoldier]

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its awesome.

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What do you think of the one guy who says he won't straddle?

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hes a bundle of sticks. plz dont tell me that you are that guy. I HATE taht guy. especially when it happens to be the jesse ventura lookalike/soundalike in the cb 30 game.

[Ulysses]

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its awesome.

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What do you think of the one guy who says he won't straddle?

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hes a bundle of sticks. plz dont tell me that you are that guy. I HATE taht guy. especially when it happens to be the jesse ventura lookalike/soundalike in the cb 30 game.

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Exactly. I feel the same way about this guy and the guy who makes the guy flip his cards after he has announced his losing hand.

[TStoneMBD]

youre saying that its bad ethics to make a player turn over his hand after hes indicated that hes lost? like when someone bets into me on the river and i call in position and he does the i cant win look i dont turn over my hand until he turns over his. for one i want to see his cards but i also want to give him a chance to muck the winner in case i actually lost. i shouldnt be doing this?

[Lori]

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Exactly. I feel the same way about this guy and the guy who makes the guy flip his cards after he has announced his losing hand.

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There are very few better feelings in gambling than saying "Ace high" to the guy who always makes you flip your cards, having him make you flip your cards and then revealing the nuts and then invoking "Cards speak, sorry"

They rarely do it again.

Lori