I hate Straddles

[detourglr]

myself when I players straddles on me in a 1/2 game. I play it as a 2/4 game..
so when you raise normally in a 1/2 game is 3x-5x the big blind.. so just make an adjustment to that amount you raise with.. after that you are just doing precentages of the pot.
I always gets the person who straddles all the time complain to me why I bet so much.. I just tell them I not the one that straddle and made the hand a 2/4 instead of a 1/2 game..

 

[MTCashman]

I don't play cash online very much do they have online straddles?

 

[PoKeRFoRNiA]

I love straddling. People like Bensrocket is the reason why I love straddling. I can see who's conservative that plays scared money, who's willing to gamble, etc. It loosens up nit tables and sometimes, you straddle and if you get no action, you take down the blinds without doing anything.

I don't straddle everytime but I tend to do it when the table seems tight. By doing this, I display a loose image to the table.

Best straddle = getting pocket Aces on your straddle and raising when the action is to you. People think you're desperate to steal the straddled pot.

 

[PoKeRFoRNiA]

If you can't handle straddle, then obviously, you're not bankrolled for it. I play on Black Chip Poker lately and they have straddle option. Although I only got $20 on there bcz of freerolls i played and cashed, i just play 2NL for fun just to kill time at night and i straddle EVERY rotation. It's just annoying that I have to click on straddle every rotation. I can't just have it clicked and have it done automatically every rotation. I have to manually do it, which pisses me off sometimes when I'm utg and don't have my straddle up there.

 

[BigFlop123]

Re: straddle

I hate straddling. Not so much when someone does it,it's just I don't straddle. It's unnecessary to put 2 BB in UTG. You're committed your chips and playing the hand out of position. I believe just like playing the big blind, straddling have a long term losing expected value.

 

[PoKeRFoRNiA]

I hate straddling. Not so much when someone does it,it's just I don't straddle. It's unnecessary to put 2 BB in UTG. You're committed your chips and playing the hand out of position. I believe just like playing the big blind, straddling have a long term losing Expected value.

Obviously, if you straddle EVERYTIME, then it's -EV. However, if the table is full of nits or if there are fishes who aren't aggressive, or LAGtards who have horrible post-flop skills, then straddling is +EV. Straddling depends on what kind of table you're in, what kind of table image you want to give, strategy to maneuver dynamics of the table, etc.

Playing your hand out of position? You're the last to act during pre-flop. If you get good hand on your straddle and raise when everyone has limped, their calling range will be extremely wide and also, people will think you're full of s*** who's defending your straddle and desperately trying to steal the pot away by isolating it.

When I straddled and got Pocket Aces, I was glad I straddled. If I haven't, then I would've had to raise UTG and I would either get no action or get called by players who will have good implied odds against me since they have position on me. By straddling and getting pocket Aces, when almost everyone limped, I popped it up to 20bb, people think I'm full of s*** that they decide to shove all-in against me with mediocre hands 88+, A3+. I've made the pot so big that people are tempted to not let it go.

Straddling has to do with metagame while building up the pot. It's very useful if you know how to use it.

Most straddlers I've seen in casinos, they just do it for the fun of it. But straddling has its benefits. It's only beneficial if you know how to use it and when to use it, knowing which tables to straddle, which tables not to, etc.

 

[blakewyte]

Straddles, Mississippi and even slipper straddles are common in the home games I play at, but usually players will ask first if the house allows for it.

I've seen $25 straddles at a 0.5/0.5 game. Insane table. All gamblers and will raise or even shove all-in pre-flop with complete air.

Of course, they're fun to win money off Until they runner runner some nonsense and then you're the one rage playing.

I was straddles give UTG advantage to watch how the rest of the table reacts and also to kick out limpers or those hoping for a cheap look at the flop.

I play straddles depending on my mood. Can play with premium hands and even crap hands like 7 4o. But that's mostly because I know the players and have been playing with them for some time that I know their style and range.

 

[Tiltt2424]

I love straddling in games with a lot of limping and passive play pf. You can really punish limpers when you straddle and feel good taking down a considerably bigger pot.

 

[sleepymike]

I don't straddle, I do like it when a person just a few seats ahead of me does a lot of it, but not so much it the player is close to my right.

 

[Karozi615]

straddles are pretty cool if you've been playing super loose and wake up with something big. Reference the Poker After Dark episode where I think Gus Hansen Straddled and had 1010. The pot was raised in early position by Elezra with rags, however Tom Dwan woke up with JJ in middle position. He made an obscene reraise (the typical nuts or air reraise that dawn is capable of) And Hansen tank shoved with 1010, because he was so far ahead of Dwans range. I think there was about 40k in the pot and Hansen had 65k or so behind? The point is that Dwan stacked Hansen because of table image, and if not for the straddle that hand would have played out ENTIRELY differently, because Elezra's initial raise actual contributed to the action that proceeded. Elezra folds without the straddle and Dwan open raises, and Gus probably just calls.
That might be hard to read but what i'm trying to say is that straddles are good for the game

 

[Beanfacekilla]

I rarely straddle.

I think it is foolish to make a blind raise and play a big pot OOP.


However, at tables full of 100 year old nits, where everyone is pushing $10 pots around, it does come in handy then.


At Greektown Casino, they allow the BTN straddle (Mississippi straddle). It generates tons of action though, and creates huge pots.

People will call so loose preflop when there are straddles. And even when the straddler does wake up with a hand, and make it like $25+ to go, strangely enough they still get multiple callers for whatever reason.


So in general, I don't like to straddle UTG. But it does make big pots, and gets action going. So that's a good thing IMO. I will just usually let others do the straddling.


Also, did you ever notice how people that straddle defend it? Like they will call almost any raise.... I think many people think their straddle is some lucky hand, and they are going to win. I have seen some ridiculous calls from straddlers preflop..... Just to defend a $4 or $5 dollar blind bet.

And ridiculous raises too from button straddlers and UTG straddlers too.

Then someone actually wakes up with a monster, gives the straddler action, and stacks him. LOL.



Great for the game, as long as others are doing it. I reserve it for special occasions.

 

[Mr Sandbag]

I rarely straddle.

I think it is foolish to make a blind raise and play a big pot OOP.


However, at tables full of 100 year old nits, where everyone is pushing $10 pots around, it does come in handy then.


At Greektown Casino, they allow the BTN straddle (Mississippi straddle). It generates tons of action though, and creates huge pots.

People will call so loose preflop when there are straddles. And even when the straddler does wake up with a hand, and make it like $25+ to go, strangely enough they still get multiple callers for whatever reason.


So in general, I don't like to straddle UTG. But it does make big pots, and gets action going. So that's a good thing IMO. I will just usually let others do the straddling.


Also, did you ever notice how people that straddle defend it? Like they will call almost any raise.... I think many people think their straddle is some lucky hand, and they are going to win. I have seen some ridiculous calls from straddlers preflop..... Just to defend a $4 or $5 dollar blind bet.

And ridiculous raises too from button straddlers and UTG straddlers too.

Then someone actually wakes up with a monster, gives the straddler action, and stacks him. LOL.



Great for the game, as long as others are doing it. I reserve it for special occasions.

I actually keep that in mind when it's a straddled hand. I narrow my range because I know everyone gets wacky for a hand.

My favorite is when a short stack straddles. He'll have like a $23 stack and straddle UTG.

 

[BigFlop123]

re: How to play the table and use straddle to your adv.

Obviously, if you straddle EVERYTIME, then it's -EV. However, if the table is full of nits or if there are fishes who aren't aggressive, or LAGtards who have horrible post-flop skills, then straddling is +EV. Straddling depends on what kind of table you're in, what kind of table image you want to give, strategy to maneuver dynamics of the table, etc.

Playing your hand out of position? You're the last to act during pre-flop. If you get good hand on your straddle and raise when everyone has limped, their calling range will be extremely wide and also, people will think you're full of s*** who's defending your straddle and desperately trying to steal the pot away by isolating it.

When I straddled and got Pocket Aces, I was glad I straddled. If I haven't, then I would've had to raise UTG and I would either get no action or get called by players who will have good implied odds against me since they have position on me. By straddling and getting pocket Aces, when almost everyone limped, I popped it up to 20bb, people think I'm full of s*** that they decide to shove all-in against me with mediocre hands 88+, A3+. I've made the pot so big that people are tempted to not let it go.

Straddling has to do with metagame while building up the pot. It's very useful if you know how to use it.

Most straddlers I've seen in casinos, they just do it for the fun of it. But straddling has its benefits. It's only beneficial if you know how to use it and when to use it, knowing which tables to straddle, which tables not to, etc.

Thank you for the reply and the analysis. A very similar scenario happens for me the other day. It's a $1/2 NL 100 max. Lots of Loose-Passive players, a few fish, and 2 nits at a full table. I was grinding for about an hour to hour and half. Then I opened up my game once I got a good read of the player tendencies and have a table image as a tight-aggressive player.

At this point the straddles were going around, and usually get 3-4 calls on the straddle. When I picked up a marginal hand like Q,10 I would checked and play the flop. Or a made hand like 9's , 8's, I would re-raise it 3-4x to $12-$16, then get it caller. Flop come 1 high 2 low, no draws. I value bet my pair and takes down the pot. Over-all, straddling won me more big pot and lost me a few small pots. So I will be sure to do that at the right table with a right stack size. Definitely the last-to-act pre-flop advantage is huge. Then depends on if I hit or miss the flop, I can lead out, semi-bluff, or check fold and try to outplay the other 2 or 3 players, then go heads up on the turn.


At the end of that morning ( i was playing from 12:30am-9:30 am, from Saturday-Sunday). I cashed out $570 with only a $100 buy-in. Not a bad day at all

So glad I read this thread the day before I played in my regular poker room in my favorite casino, and reaped the rewards.

 

[PoKeRFoRNiA]

Thank you for the reply and the analysis. A very similar scenario happens for me the other day. It's a $1/2 NL 100 max. Lots of Loose-Passive players, a few fish, and 2 nits at a full table. I was grinding for about an hour to hour and half. Then I opened up my game once I got a good read of the player tendencies and have a table image as a tight-aggressive player.

At this point the straddles were going around, and usually get 3-4 calls on the straddle. When I picked up a marginal hand like Q,10 I would checked and play the flop. Or a made hand like 9's , 8's, I would re-raise it 3-4x to $12-$16, then get it caller. Flop come 1 high 2 low, no draws. I value bet my pair and takes down the pot. Over-all, straddling won me more big pot and lost me a few small pots. So I will be sure to do that at the right table with a right stack size. Definitely the last-to-act pre-flop advantage is huge. Then depends on if I hit or miss the flop, I can lead out, semi-bluff, or check fold and try to outplay the other 2 or 3 players, then go heads up on the turn.


At the end of that morning ( i was playing from 12:30am-9:30 am, from Saturday-Sunday). I cashed out $570 with only a $100 buy-in. Not a bad day at all

So glad I read this thread the day before I played in my regular poker room in my favorite casino, and reaped the rewards.

I'm glad I can somewhat help and I'm glad you're getting the taste of what straddling is and what their benefits are. Just don't go too crazy with straddling . Congrats with your session. Feels good to walk out. Strong 9-hour session with $470 profit. That's over $52/hour. Keep it up.

Most people who straddle, just do it for the fun of it and just to "build a pot". Very rarely people know its benefits of straddle. Most people straddle to "build a pot" but don't know what to do after they've "build the pot". Knowing when to do it will benefit you.

 

[houtlijm]

there is no reason to hate the straddle.. it's only a little more you pay each round and you definetely get a lot of more action at the table. maybe you shoulndt play all night with straddle if you dont like it..

 

[PoKeRFoRNiA]

Playing loose and straddling just for this moment. Straddle with AA = Guaranteed action and paid.

Game started at: 2013/12/25 9:33:58
Game ID: 235427694 0.01/0.02 Laylalite (Short) - 2 (Hold'em)
Seat 8 is the button
Seat 1: oebully (0.97).
Seat 2: PoKeR4NiA (2.40).
Seat 4: CrimsonArrow (0.64).
Seat 5: redcards111 (0.95).
Seat 6: Wmechanics27 (1).
Seat 7: americaswolf (1).
Seat 8: loosedeadmoney13 (0.85).
Seat 9: ha (1.24).
Player ha has small blind (0.01)
Player oebully has big blind (0.02)
Player PoKeR4NiA straddle (0.04)

Player PoKeR4NiA received card: A♥
Player PoKeR4NiA received card: A♦

Player CrimsonArrow folds
Player redcards111 folds
Player Wmechanics27 folds
Player americaswolf folds
Player loosedeadmoney13 calls (0.04)
Player ha folds
Player oebully calls (0.02)
Player PoKeR4NiA bets (0.12)
Player loosedeadmoney13 allin (0.81)
Player oebully folds
Player PoKeR4NiA calls (0.69)
*** FLOP ***: [Ks 4d Qc]
*** TURN ***: [Ks 4d Qc] 5♥
*** RIVER ***: [Ks 4d Qc 5h] 6♦
------ Summary ------
Pot: 1.67. Rake 0.08
Board: [Ks 4d Qc 5h 6d]
Player oebully does not show cards.Bets: 0.04. Collects: 0. Loses: 0.04.
*Player PoKeR4NiA shows: One pair of As [Ah Ad]. Bets: 0.85. Collects: 1.67. Wins: 0.82.

Player loosedeadmoney13 shows: High card A [Ac 10c]. Bets: 0.85. Collects: 0. Loses: 0.85.

Game ended at: 2013/12/25 9:34:55

Would this player have gone all-in or 3-bet me all-in with ATs if I hadn't straddled? If I didn't straddle and had AA UTG, This player would've flat-called my raise along with many other players behind me, which gives people good implied odds to crack my Aces. I changed the dynamics of the table by straddling and made people play wide range of hands against me. I also straddled because lot of players here are soft and they tend to limp often. I've been isolating a lot at this table, and constantly taking down pots on the flop. This player got annoyed of me because I was playing like a pos.

 

[Mikeisanace777]

The straddle is a psychological ploy

You straddle to create the urgency then look down at aq off suit with a hmm then just call.. You flop 2 pair check and let everyone go wild then reraise and have a % advantage. Some times if your a straddler and you look down at 2-9 off you so the say hmm and just call then fold later to keep it consistent, also never look at your cards til the action is to you because of your paying for a positional pre-flop informational advantage so just look and be aware of whats going on and who is rasing because with a hand like ax suited this can be a huge multiway pot.

 

[timberwolf94]

I like to straddle sometimes. Mostly when other players are doing it also. I really don't mind if someone else strafdles in front of me. It kinda helps me determine what I want to bet on.

 

[Narcotic35]

I totally hate straddles. The reason is that I like to play live, but my bankroll is rather limited. In fact the .25/.5 that I try to play is not always available and then the 1/1 gets really expensive with straddles and basically means I went to the casino for nothing, as I can't afford it.

 

[MinorMisfit]

The only thing that the straddle changes is the SPR (stack to pot ratio) Anyone that had 100bb now only has 50bb.

Adjust your game accordingly. Playing tighter is a smart idea. Think about the huge pot your going to win if you wake up with a big hand.

Get to know your straddler. Find out his raising frequency. That will help you decide if your going for a limp raise or not. Also be very wary of limpers in a straddle pot, they are often laying a trap them self.

Hope this helps! Good luck out there!