Speaking of Straddle, just last night, I was playing Live 3-6 (as usual) and been winning, up by 135%-150% buy-in so I'm feeling good (I almost always buy-in for 100BB or sometimes 150BB if the room allowed it). A new guy sits 2 seats to my left, and He bought in short - 60BB. In his very first hand, (He's in MP) He raised immediately for 6.5BB and everyone folded. His very next hand, once again He raised, this time at 7BB, and the result was the same. Hmmm, a loose cannon, I thought so to myself. On his 3rd hand at UTG2, He raised 8BB, someone at the BTN raised big, more than enough to put LC (loose cannon) all-in. Everyone folded but LC insta-call. BTN has 9Td, LC got AKh. Nobody hit their cards so LC double up. I'm always friendly at the table and more than sometimes I ask the players near to me, why did they do it or how would they do it not realizing on their part that I'm gathering info from them. And I can tell (call it women intuition
) if they are talking BS about their answers whether that was true or not. So I asked LC, "If you were not short stack, would you answer the big raise?" And he immediately answer me, "I'm a raiser, and I never folded a hand regardless of my holding, if I'm the one who started it all."
On the very next hand LC straddles, and got 4 callers, I was on the SB with 5s7s. The pot odds were very tempting and I was getting the right odds. But knowing how aggressive LC is, it is almost automatic that he will raise his straddle. So my next question is, how much I am willing to call LC's raise. 10BB? 15BB? All his chips? I'll call 15BB if the 4 callers will call. 10BB if even 2 of the 4 callers will call because I'm pretty certain that BB will call due to good pot odds. But I will always fold to a shove. I'm also not worried if the other players will play back at him since the table is somewhat passive. But I folded, thinking He might shove considering the money already on the table.
And to my dismay, He checked his option! I never anticipated that! And to add salt to injury, I could have flopped 2 pairs and could have held till river, not to mention a big payday...
So, my question here is, How much are you willing to gamble in this situation? Or Are you willing to call in this situation, considering you will be OOP the rest of the way.
My rationale for calling here (had I called, aside from the pot odds) are;
1. Speculative hands are very good in multi-way pots especially against 5-6 players;
2. If I don't hit the flop, I'm done;
3. I'm winning, so 10-15BB are just part of my winnings so I can afford that.
I'm looking forward to your answers and criticisms
, especially to Baudib since you play a lot of Live Cash, MediaBlitz, MissJacki and Arjonius just to name a few of very good posters here in CC. In fact, I learn a lot from your posts.
P.S. Sorry OP, by ambushing your thread. I just thought that since you are asking about straddle, then maybe I can just slip something in here and this is somewhat related.
