Merits of Blind Raising/Stradling in Cash games

NickyOD

I'm trying to think of a good reason for it to be a profitable move to open raise on the blind in cash games. It happens every second hand in the Macau and the 4 Aces. Is it only donkeys, drunks and action junkies that do this or is it a profitable strategy for a good player? I can only imagine that this is profitable if you are in a game where you can play any 2 cards in a raised pot out of position against a table full of idiots.

For example. In the Macau on Sunday in the 1/2 game. First to act blind raises to €5. I call in the small blind with 6-7o. BB calls. Flop is A-Q-T. I think it was all hearts and I had the 7 of hearts. Whooop dee doo! I check, BB checks and the blinds raiser bets pot. I think wow that's really lucky to hit your flop with a blind raise like that.....not. I raise the pot. BB folds villain calls. D'oh! I check the turn, villain checks. River is another Ace and I bet €50about 1/3 of the pot. Villain folds showing 8-4o with the 8 of hearts. nh wp.

Marq

with a live straddle you are effectively just increasing the size of the game. If you think the game is too small, or believe that by increasing the size of the game you are forcing other players to play beyond their comfort level, I think live straddles are a good idea. Obviously you should have the bankroll to play within your own comfort zone.

Hectorjelly

its good for your image, can get a game more lively and exciting (ie more profitable), you can pressure other people to do it and they will make mistakes, and its fun.

fixer

in the Macau, the straddle is not live (except in the 100 game, when it's 2-5-5 blinds)

I've used it in the SE lately when sitting with some younger and/or drunker players, to good effect using Marq's idea of "forcing other players to play beyond their comfort level"

Bozzer

Most ppl straddle for fun and to create action.
If you straddle it can create a gambling image amongst your opponents and help you get future action. It can also encourage others to straddle.In an extremely tight game straddling could be profitable-take pot down preflop.
If you find yourself in a 3 handed game then straddling on the button can be a money maker.
Straddling is not so good against tough opposition and at a full table.
It is generally not profitable in a vacuum.

Marq

Bozzer wrote:

It is generally not profitable in a vacuum.

Not so. I played a game in a Nilfisk N90 once and found straddling very profitable.

bmc

Marq wrote:

Not so. I played a game in a Nilfisk N90 once and found straddling very profitable.

Yes, but this is of course one of the advance features of the N90 though and is not normally available in the rest of the 'N' range.

The_Chopper

I enjoy the live straddle of the 4 aces:
1. It creates a bigger pot for someone - hopefully the straddler.
2. If the blinds of 1 & 3 are straddled to say 6, 12 & 25 you can be sure that only genuine hands are in play - none of this 2, 4o limping stuff.
3. If you've straddled for say 12 or 25 and look down at a monster such as KK or AA you know even with no callers when you raise you've made money i.e. straddle for 12, 6 limpers you raise to whatever - the table folds. You've still made 72 on your AA,
4. I love when I straddle for 12 and practically the whole table limps (You know if anyone has a genuine monster they would have raised as the pot would allow a healthy raise) you can then represent the monster and bet pot - 90% of the time you will take the pot right here (WARNING: you can only do this with a bankroll)

Bozzer

Marq wrote:

Not so. I played a game in a Nilfisk N90 once and found straddling very profitable.

True. Straddling can work well in a vacuum if you're trying to create some atmosphere.

Marq

bmc wrote:

Yes, but this is of course one of the advance features of the N90 though and is not normally available in the rest of the 'N' range.

Quite right, a Dyson is your best bet these days.

bmc

Marq wrote:

Quite right, a Dyson is your best bet these days.

I hadn't considered that. That Dyson guy is a genius.

*me goes off to buy a Dyson...

RoundTower

The_Chopper wrote:

I enjoy the live straddle of the 4 aces:
2. If the blinds of 1 & 3 are straddled to say 6, 12 & 25 you can be sure that only genuine hands are in play - none of this 2, 4o limping stuff.

Obviously this isn't the same 4 aces I played in.

The_Chopper

RoundTower wrote:

Obviously this isn't the same 4 aces I played in.

You'd be surprised - the game has tightened up the last few times i've been there. Don't get me wrong it's still loose compared to other games.

Also regulars there seem to get a lot more respect when they raise

mormank

well ive always found a live straddle can be fun and profitable if u pick up a hand etc..but the dead straddles like they have in the macau are the most pointless things cos normally it will be raised pre flop to whatever u can straddle for anyway so u may as well look at ur cards...

NickyOD

Bozzer wrote:

Most ppl straddle for fun and to create action.
If you straddle it can create a gambling image amongst your opponents and help you get future action. It can also encourage others to straddle.In an extremely tight game straddling could be profitable-take pot down preflop.
If you find yourself in a 3 handed game then straddling on the button can be a money maker.
Straddling is not so good against tough opposition and at a full table.
It is generally not profitable in a vacuum.

Interesting. I don't play a lot of live cash games so this is all new to me. No doubt it is a lot of fun but I think a lot players who do it aren't aware of the situations when they should avoid it. At the time of the hand in question we were 6 handed with no one who you would call an out and out fish playing so I think it was a bad decision. I might try experimenting with it but I think it might only be profitable at a table I'm already hammering.

RoundTower

Marq wrote:

Not so. I played a game in a Nilfisk N90 once and found straddling very profitable.

I hope you cleaned up.