The Art of the Cash Game Live Straddle

[6bet me]

If you don't want to participate in straddles then that's fair enough... I just want you to be aware of how others might perceive your lack of participation and what effect this might have on future games (less incentive for recreational gamblers to join in).

Btw, it's "hole cards", not "whole cards".

 

[duggs]

If players must have a home game where everyone must straddle, then they need to find a homegame, where the houseman has that rule enacted.

seems like common sense to me. the houseman makes the rules, not the players

I personally would never play in a poker game, where a rule was made that everyone at the table is forced to raise the bet, without looking at their downcards.

maybe this is one reason I beat the game over 30 years ?

people have used the word etiquette for a reason, noone is saying that you can't, just thats its scummy. in the same way angle shooting, deliberately tilting people, tanking unnecessarily, and being a stickler for the rules with a massive whale are all technically ok. but they are all still scummy

 

[Rumme1]

If you don't want to participate in straddles then that's fair enough... ".

then we agree..just like I admit that if others wish to raise in the blind, thats their right and I wont ever try to stop it.

if some players want to regard me as a scumbag, because I chose not to raise a pot without first looking at my downcards , then I can live with that. Im there to win money, not be worshipped or praised by other gamblers at the table.

 

[Rumme1]

Now, lets talk about the incredible skill and strategies involved in betting or raising or folding, without looking at your starting cards beforehand.

Maybe this will catch on and become so popular, that most players will decide to play the whole hand, in the dark.

 

[jscales]

I was actually sitting a 1/2NL game recently and the table was wanting to straddle for one orbit. I explained I don't straddle, but if what they are looking for is more action then I would be willing to up the blinds to 2/4 if they wanted. Everyone agreed to that, we called the floor over and proceeded with higher blinds. It is all a negotiation, and how you are perceived at the table is all about how you handle the situation.

 

[Rumme1]

I was actually sitting a 1/2NL game recently and the table was wanting to straddle for one orbit. I explained I don't straddle, but if what they are looking for is more action then I would be willing to up the blinds to 2/4 if they wanted. Everyone agreed to that, we called the floor over and proceeded with higher blinds. It is all a negotiation, and how you are perceived at the table is all about how you handle the situation.

and this makes complete sense to me. the rules should apply to everyone and if the rules dictate that players DO NOT have to straddle, then players DO NOT have to straddle, even if peer pressure from other players exists.

if the blinds arent large enough, then a rule can be made to raise the blinds if everyone agrees.

Congratulations to you, for not giving into a straddle, just because other players at the table wanted to do it.

Can you imagine that some players will actually try and convince people that raising the bet, in the dark, is actually a good way to play poker ? Utterly amazing, and its one reason why the majority who play poker, end up losers in the game.

 

[Rumme1]

At my casino, the $5/$5 game plays with a $10 straddle and a $1000 max buy-in. Also, the $5/$10 game plays with a $20 straddle and a $2000 max buy-in. Whilst these straddles are non-compulsory, everyone does it and you'll be frowned upon if you don't straddle. Honestly, not straddling in a game like this is just as bad as having a huge tilt problem like Phil Hellmuth, or refusing to shake hands like Justin Schwarz at the WSOP, or purposely annoying other players like Tony G. It's very bad etiquette. But it's your choice if you want to play like that because you can't win properly.

why do you not understand this ?

you are choosing to sit in a game that has a EXPECTED FORCED straddle...and I would chose not to sit at that table if that straddle was forced upon me. why do you wish to take away another players freewill, if they are not disobeying the house rules ? why do you not see, that you are being unreasonable..not me or other non straddlers ?

im not forcing you to NOT straddle, and you have no right to force others TO straddle.

its very simple. I dont play poker without looking at my whole cards first. Im a poker player first and foremost, not a gambler.

If I approached a casino table and before I sat down , all the players told me they agreed upon a forced straddle, then I would not sit at the table. I think thats more then fair. Just like if I sat at a table, and there hadnt been any straddle , and several other players tried to force a straddle on the rest of us, I would refuse it and advise them to find another table that has rules they wish to be part of.

 

[duggs]

Now, lets talk about the incredible skill and strategies involved in betting or raising or folding, without looking at your starting cards beforehand.

Maybe this will catch on and become so popular, that most players will decide to play the whole hand, in the dark.

must have missed the part where we advocated this, but good job straw manning

 

[Rumme1]

must have missed the part where we advocated this, but good job straw manning

yes..you missed it..some players are insinuating that straddling / raising blind can be a good poker play.


go back and reread the thread.

heres 1 quote on this thread :

" A straddle is a good play and can work to your advantage,.."

 

[Rumme1]

Would it be fair to say that an opponent who straddles a lot (almost every other time he's on the button) is a loose player?

/QUOTE]

let the loose, gamblers straddle. if you are a tight conservative player that wishes to protect your money, then dont let other players pressure you to raise fold or bet in the dark. No matter what anyone tells you , in the end, making such moves on a repeated basis, is not good poker , or logical poker. Its common sense that if you are raising the pot, without any knowledge of your starting hand, you are purely GAMBLING, and not playing skillful poker.

PLAY YOUR GAME, THAT BEST SUITS YOUR STYLE..DONT LET PEER PRESSURE FROM OTHER POKER PLAYERS AT THE TABLE, DICTATE HOW YOU PLAY, RAISE , BET OR FOLD.

 

[duggs]

let the loose, gamblers straddle. if you are a tight conservative player that wishes to protect your money, then dont let other players pressure you to raise fold or bet in the dark. No matter what anyone tells you , in the end, making such moves on a repeated basis, is not good poker , or logical poker. Its common sense that if you are raising the pot, without any knowledge of your starting hand, you are purely GAMBLING, and not playing skillful poker.

PLAY YOUR GAME, THAT BEST SUITS YOUR STYLE..DONT LET PEER PRESSURE FROM OTHER POKER PLAYERS AT THE TABLE, DICTATE HOW YOU PLAY, RAISE , BET OR FOLD.

you are honestly going to just drop in that Mississippi straddling is bad? id mississipi straddle every 6 handed game if i could

 

[duggs]

lets not forget that the guys you are still arguing with havent said anything about the EV of straddling and that only 1 or 2 posts 55 posts ago mentioned it

 

[Rumme1]

you are honestly going to just drop in that Mississippi straddling is bad? id mississipi straddle every 6 handed game if i could

for my style of play,. it is never a logical play for me to bet, raise or fold, without first looking at my starting hand.

if you claim doing those types of plays makes you a better player or more logical player, then im fine with it. I fully support your right to straddle every hand of poker you play. In fact, I think it may be a even better strategy to play the entire hands in the dark...dont even look at your cards..just bet it.

 

[duggs]

for my style of play,. it is never a logical play for me to bet, raise or fold, without first looking at my starting hand.

if you claim doing those types of plays makes you a better player or more logical player, then im fine with it. I fully support your right to straddle every hand of poker you play. In fact, I think it may be a even better strategy to play the entire hands in the dark...dont even look at your cards..just bet it.

Not once have i said that, i just said its good etiquette in most settings where everyone else does

 

[duggs]

for my style of play,. it is never a logical play for me to bet, raise or fold, without first looking at my starting hand.

if you claim doing those types of plays makes you a better player or more logical player, then im fine with it. I fully support your right to straddle every hand of poker you play. In fact, I think it may be a even better strategy to play the entire hands in the dark...dont even look at your cards..just bet it.

clearly dont even ****ing know what a Mississippi is. it artificially gives you a positional advantage preflop.

 

[Rumme1]

clearly dont even ****ing know what a Mississippi is. it artificially gives you a positional advantage preflop.

never claimed to know what a missippi is...did i ?

I clearly stated that i dont straddle.

 

[Rumme1]

Not once have i said that, i just said its good etiquette in most settings where everyone else does

disagree...it is not good etiquette, for other players to force another player to engage in a action, they are not comfortable with, and is not a strict rule made by the houseman.