create a straddle

The amount of poker I have played there is one thing I notice. Just about every place has a different straddle, can you explain the weirdest or best straddle you ever seen. I do think it's interesting that people can create so many different styles. It's nice to put your own twist in the game of poker.

I personally don't like straddles and can't imagine why any poker player looking for profit would make them. They do two things, have you put money in without knowing your cards, therefore being just as -EV as the blinds, and also bloating the pot. You are going to be out of position on anyone that calls the straddle, with the exception of the blinds. Straddles are just a way to get more money into the pot, but the person making the straddle is getting that money in there bad.

I love the straddle in certain games. Can create huge pots were terrible players will call it off when you have them crushed, its a two way street though haha

I have been at tables where people straddle, typically double the big blind. But i don't see that it has much effect other than cutting down on the limpers. The straddler could end up with crappy cards in the worst position. Not worth it for the added "excitement" IMO.

It's a greater risk for not knowing your cards. I don't care for it at all.

The sole purpose imo would be to create action. The home games I play in rarely straddle due to the fact that the table is already loose AF.

Good for fun, bad for profit.

The only time i really like to straddle is if there is an agreement at the table like that everyone will do it for one round or something so that way it still creates the action but no one person is getting stuck with the disadvantage of the straddle

I love the straddle. Adds entertainment to the home games/any cash game.

usually by then end of the night at the home game I play at everyone starts to loosen up and straddle/double straddle.

Straddle is definitely something fun to do and spice up the game, as long as there is an agreement between players that everyone will do it, not fair if your the only one doing it.

It can definitely add alot more action to the game if you ask me.

As said, it's to create action. It's for gamblers, not for solid players trying to grind a profit. To do it once in awhile to break the monotony and spice things up is fine, but to do it every hand is generally a bad idea from an EV perspective.

And not sure what OP means by different or "weird" straddles. The only ones I'm aware of are the standard live straddle where UTG raises the bb and thus becomes the 3rd blind, the Mississippi straddle where anybody (not just UTG) straddles, and sleeper bets which are similar to Mississippi straddles but can't be raised if called around and don't affect position like straddles. There are a wide variety of house rules around whether and how straddles can be played however.

cdidit622 said:

The amount of poker I have played there is one thing I notice. Just about every place has a different straddle, can you explain the weirdest or best straddle you ever seen. I do think it's interesting that people can create so many different styles. It's nice to put your own twist in the game of poker.

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When I play home game with my mates we are using the most simplified straddle. Tge guy who loosing can bet in pre dealt hand, blinds are the same but if you want to envolve you have to call that bet. :-D

I do not like straddles as for me it ruins my game, I always get bad starting hands when I am on the blinds, so I don't want to double the BB without seeing what kind of cards I am playing with

I don't like it at all. Some of those people I played with tries it every other and goes all in! It just turns the table into a bingo game which annoys me! One time I joined the fun and lost, I was really pissed lol so I told myself that I will never do it again!