Rules Question: Straddle

Hitman Actual

Right, playing a live €1-€3 holdem NL game tonight, and the player UTG could post a blind €6 bet (i.e. a min-raise). First of all, is this technicaly a straddle? But my main question regards the following: If the €6 was just called around to the straddle, he had the option to raise. Is this correct? Seems like a load of b****x to me!

kinaldo

lenny_leonard wrote:

Right, playing a live €1-€3 holdem NL game tonight, and the player UTG could post a blind €6 bet (i.e. a min-raise). First of all, is this technicaly a straddle? But my main question regards the following: If the €6 was just called around to the straddle, he had the option to raise. Is this correct? Seems like a load of b****x to me!

Everyone has to agree for a straddle to be allowed afaik. Where was there a €1/3 NL game taking place?

Hitman Actual

Crane Club in Mullingar. Good spot, especially for good players. I know Roundtower was talking about hitting it a while back when there was a 10/20 game going, but that game has since died out. Anyway, to the question in hand, it just appeared to be an optional raise of the BB by UTG. They were calling it a straddle, but I'm not sure of the exact definition of a straddle. And I really didn't like the fact that the UTG raise could then re-raise when it came back to him. The more aggressive players were (kind of) using it to there advantage, putting in a big raise on the straddle. But they were generally doing it with a wide range of hands, so a decent player could catch them out anyway.

kinaldo

Yup, that's a straddle alright. Sounds like fun!

I once played a €1/2 NL cash game in the fitz where there was a 'live five' in place. UTG could make it €5 but no more, usually on the blind, and then have an option when it got back to them.

Poker & Pints

the straddle is for. Also, the players do not need to agree to it as mentioned earlier...if the casino or poker house allows straddle bets then it can be played anytime. I have really never seen it used in NL games, it is primarily for PL in order to get the pot built up higher and of course FL so that you can have an extra raise essentially. Basically the way I learned it was that you were buying the BB. So the straddler now has final option.

kickintheteeth

there are two types, a straddle, where the better has an option to raise when it comes back around. or just a blind raise where he has no option.
the fitz plays the blind raise one, and the cash games at the irish open had stradle. 2-5 was fun, big pots

Hitman Actual

Fair enough lads, looks like I was wrong so (and I did a fair bit of arguing in a semi-drunken state). But believe me, this game didn't need a straddle to get it going, full of f**king maniacs! Definately a game for a good NL cash game player, which unfortunately I'm not, although I think I could win here with ease (and a decent BR).

Mr. Flibble

When you can raise again when it gets back to you = Live Straddle

When you can't = Straddle.

You don't need agreement from other players for the second type as there are no rule changes - you are just betting in the dark.