Special $5 chip in a home game.

Last weekend I played in a $1-2 home game where they had a special $5 chip. If you had that chip it gave you the right to straddle from any position except the blinds. Kind of like a Mississippi straddle, except you could put whatever $ amount you wanted for the straddle (min $5). You have to win the chip to be able to use it.

It was pretty cool and livened up the game quite a bit.

Obviously the best position to take this option is the button. I'm curious what people think would be the best amount to bet here? Leave it at the minimum $5. Make it $8 which is the standard opening bet in this game? Make it more?

When I had it I left it at the min $5, but am thinking it may be better to make it more. Opinions?

Too confusing to figure, I've never played this style before, however if you feel the chip gives you an advantage then I would say bet bigger!

You are putting extra money into a pot without any idea of your hand or any reads.This is a disadvantage and i would do the minimium.

Would you put $40 straddle for example into a $3 pot.I think it is obvious that less is best.



Snow

Snowmobiler said:

You are putting extra money into a pot without any idea of your hand or any reads.This is a disadvantage and i would do the minimium.

Would you put $40 straddle for example into a $3 pot.I think it is obvious that less is best.



Snow

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Yes that's what i was thinking at the time. It seemed when I put it in for $5 everyone would call it. I would have the last option to raise, it being a live straddle, and when you do it from the button you are last to act on every round.

After thinking about it more, I think its best to just leave it the min, since it is blind. It was definitely a pot bloater in the game.

the straddle is like a blind. the blinds are the most unprofitable position in any ring game

bigjoker66 said:

Yes that's what i was thinking at the time. It seemed when I put it in for $5 everyone would call it. I would have the last option to raise, it being a live straddle, and when you do it from the button you are last to act on every round.

After thinking about it more, I think its best to just leave it the min, since it is blind. It was definitely a pot bloater in the game.

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I would at least have to bet 2 times the big blind in this position in the hopes of trying to steal the blinds and the pot...that would make it a wonderful tool to use and definately liven up the game quite a bit.

interesting. never heard of the mississippi straddle. yeah obv if u were going to do it, button or cutoff would be best.

someone explain "straddle" to me please?
aC

akaCLINT said:

someone explain "straddle" to me please?
aC

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A straddle is just an extra blind. In a typical live ring game, UTG can optionally toss in an extra blind that is double the BB. It becomes the new BB and everyone must call/raise that blind to play, and the straddler gets to act last pre-flop. Sometimes you'll have multiple straddles, where UTG+1 doubles the straddle, etc. It builds a big pot and encourages action. I've seen it quite often in live ring games where I've played. Never have played with a Mississippi straddle or this chip thing from any position though.

I never voluntarily put in a straddle -- as others have noted blinds are typically not profitable positions. However some like it because of the extra action and the fact it makes the straddler last to act instead of first to act pre-flop. Some tables I've played at did it almost every hand, and some players did it consistently every time they were in position to do so.

akaCLINT said:

someone explain "straddle" to me please?
aC

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A straddle is a blind bet made by the person under the gun. A straddle bet is equivalent to two big blinds. The person who posts the straddle gets to bet last in the preflop round.

Sometimes action can get very crazy in live games with straddles, i have even seen a game (1-2) where one person straddled then the next one (double again) up until 64 dollars for a straddle.

I think using the straddle from the cutoff or the button would be a bad idea. You would be randomly putting money into the pot in the two most profitable positions in holdem. If I were in the game, I would try and steal the blinds and the straddle if someone straddled.

I can really see how the action is increased by having a straddle. In Poker After Dark you sometimes see the UTG and the UTG +1 straddle.

Lonsdaleite said:

I think using the straddle from the cutoff or the button would be a bad idea. You would be randomly putting money into the pot in the two most profitable positions in holdem. If I were in the game, I would try and steal the blinds and the straddle if someone straddled.

I can really see how the action is increased by having a straddle. In Poker After Dark you sometimes see the UTG and the UTG +1 straddle.

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The cutoff and the button are the BEST spots to post a blind straddle. If its the button you are the last to act on EVERY street where you have the most information.

If I had the option to straddle the button every time I had it I would. think about it. you are playing bigger pots only when you are in position, the rest of the time you play smaller pots out of position. This is the ideal situation. Think about it!!!