straddle? blind chopping?

woohoo sue

woohoo sue

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Does Americas Cardroom allow players to straddle?
Straddle is available at Americas Cardroom. This is where a player under the gun blind raises and has the opportunity to take last action before the flop. The Winning Poker Network is the only place that this is available.

Does Americas Cardroom offer blind chopping?
Yes, players may chop blinds if all other players fold. This is the when the blinds have their chips returned before the flop. Both players must have the option clicked before the hand begins.

found this in a article and need help understanding.....are these optiions offered in cash games? i don't play a lot of...if so...

What situations and Why would you use them?

If they are also used in tournament play?.....why don't i know about these? and also how would they be used?
 
LazerBoy

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It's just for cash games.

These two concepts are actually quite common in live play.

The purpose of the chopping of the blinds, which is more applicable to live play, is that it speeds up the game. Basically blind vs blind play doesn't have much action (lower limits) and instead of taking the process of playing flop,turn,river where it goes check/check, the players get their blinds back and then next hand starts up right away.

Straddling basically raises the stakes. So for example, instead of playing 1/2, you are playing 1/2/4. The person who "blind" straddles is just putting out a 3rd blind in essence. The object of it is to increase action.
 
OzExorcist

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Yep, ^ this.

The major "benefit" of straddling is when you can convince the whole table to do it, either for a certain period of time, or for the duration of the game. Obviously blind raising UTG isn't a great strategy for the person doing it, but it is great for those in later position. If you can convince the whole table to do a round of straddles, or to just permanently straddle, you increase the size of the game and it's still "fair" for everyone.

It's not too difficult to arrange and enforce on a live table, I imagine it'd be a bit harder on an online table though as some people don't watch their chat boxes very closely and if someone just opts out when it's their turn to straddle there's not much you can do about it.
 
Fishmasterbaiter

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Straddle and or chop

LOL, In all the years I've played online poker I've never seen a site that allowed straddling! It's a blast to straddle in a live game because it drives the dude on your right nuts, haha. I've been on ACR for a while and never noticed it there. Gotta look closer, I guess. Thanks for the tip!
 
LazerBoy

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I completely forgot that major benefit! If you can get the whole table to to do or at least say 6 out of 9 players to do it ... it basically raises the stakes of the game you're playing. Which if you are comfortable and have played the stake above yours can be highly beneficial.

So for example ... say you play a mix of both 1/2 and 2/5. You are in a 1/2 game and get most of the table to straddle every hand. Now this 1/2 game is playing 1/2/4 which is about the same as playing 2/5. But now you have the advantage of playing essentially 2/5, with a lower level skill of players.
 
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Napkins420

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People chop as someone already said to speed up the game, also if it's just checked down the only winner is the house with the rake

Straddleing can help a really tight passive dry game, I acctually only like the "Mississippi" straddle, where any position except the blinds can straddle, button having priority
 
woohoo sue

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yup i've heard choppin a pot in poker but blind chopping ..this article says it's an option you can ask for where when in SB or BB with another player that has this option checked that you both get back your blinds like "no contest".

thought this is weird and can't imagine how they do i either....the time i wouldn't want it checked is when there's a lot of sit outs in a tournament...but like you all said these probably only exist for cash table options and is why I'm oblivious to them.

Thank you all for enlightening me and others who may have not known of these.
 
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