Thoughts On Straddling

[AstroCreeper 0]

What is everyone's thoughts on straddling? I tend to not do it unless the table is really tight. Straddling tends to loosen people up and makes people bluff more often in my opinion. I know it also depends on how you like to play your straddle. I say this because I straddled for 5 consecutive rounds last night, the 1st time everyone folded back to me (half of the players not even understanding what a straddle was, they thought I had looked at my cards and min raised UTG). 2nd time 5 people limped. 3rd and 4th times people re-raised preflop and I folded trash cards. 5th time MP raised, I reraised big with QQ, he moved in and I called his AQ. I think in a super tight game, straddling gets people to do things they normally wouldn't and they make donkey moves like this. Thoughts?(And yes I know there's probably some other threads on straddling around here, but I haven't seen one in a while, so save the flaming for someone who cares)

[David_Nicoson 1]

What is everyone's thoughts on straddling? I tend to not do it unless the table is really tight. Straddling tends to loosen people up and makes people bluff more often in my opinion. I know it also depends on how you like to play your straddle. I say this because I straddled for 5 consecutive rounds last night, the 1st time everyone folded back to me (half of the players not even understanding what a straddle was, they thought I had looked at my cards and min raised UTG).

Hmmm, makes you think, doesn't it?

2nd time 5 people limped. 3rd and 4th times people re-raised preflop and I folded trash cards. 5th time MP raised, I reraised big with QQ, he moved in and I called his AQ. I think in a super tight game, straddling gets people to do things they normally wouldn't and they make donkey moves like this. Thoughts?(And yes I know there's probably some other threads on straddling around here, but I haven't seen one in a while, so save the flaming for someone who cares)

We play locally with a "Mississippi straddle", meaning you play a straddle from any position. Mostly people do it from the button, effectively doubling the stakes when they are playing in position. There's certainly more merit to it in that case.

[LPY2005 0]

I thought you were only allowed to straddle UTG? I see people do it lots in the Casinos around here, basically to provoke a reraise so that you can take a big pot when you are delt a moster UTG. I imagine in limit someone could do the math to find out if this is +EV or not, but I would guess that this would only make sense in nl as you would need the huge implied odds to make up for all the times you have to through your 2x bb away. As far as a way to loosen up a tight table and disguising your hand I think it's a good idea.If you want to loosen up a tight table just raise everything 5x bb preflop for a few hands. Make it completely obvious. Soon people are calling a $40 raise at $1/2 NL with JT. As soon as people catch on switch gears.

[Scott3705 0]

If you want to loosen up a tight table just raise everything 5x bb preflop for a few hands. Make it completely obvious. Soon people are calling a $40 raise at $1/2 NL with JT. As soon as people catch on switch gears.

or announce a blind raise in MP.

[LPY2005 0]

or announce a blind raise in MP.

I like that. No one does that here, but I could see it as being very effective, especially if you also want to shake a tight image.

[iggymcfly 0]

I like that. No one does that here, but I could see it as being very effective, especially if you also want to shake a tight image.

When I really want to loosen my image, I do that. Except I ruffle my cards a little bit like I'm looking at them. Then I try to steal on the flop, turn, and river (if necessary), and only when I'm done do I announce that I was playing the hand blind. Now that loosens up your image. Of course, it's a little more risky than a $5 straddle.

[Scott3705 0]

When I really want to loosen my image, I do that. Except I ruffle my cards a little bit like I'm looking at them. Then I try to steal on the flop, turn, and river (if necessary), and only when I'm done do I announce that I was playing the hand blind. Now that loosens up your image. Of course, it's a little more risky than a $5 straddle.

ha. No, I really raise blind and will announce it too. It'll usually only cost a little and (as most NL players can't really judge actions outside of preflop actions), I get a good amount of advertising out of it. Damn kids.

[oceansize 0]

I really don't see the gain to be had by straddling at a NL table. Pot limit, sure, you get a good raise in before actions and increase the pot size bet that can be made, Limit also, you can force a lot of check/calling stations to get off that fence, but in No Limit? Seeing as how you can bet everything at any action already, seems like a waste of chips. Most times you will not be able to play your blind hand (I have never played a NL ring game where there were not a raise or re-raise before the flop) and the end result is that you forfieted chips you might need when you do hit a hand. Who wants to realize they dumped 20 bucks throughout the night on straddle action when they finally get AA but only have 30 bucks to play it with?I'm sure an arguement can be made as to the effect it may have on table image, but most times your image is only maintained for as long as a few hands after the image was made and it needs to be reinforced periodically, so if your after loose image through straddles or playing hands blind, your gonna have to keep that up to some extent. Just seems like more of a stack drain that it's worth to me.Los

[AstroCreeper 0]

If you read my OP, I argue that straddling is good at a really tight table, i.e. lots of tight PF folds and weak limps. If you play at a table that already raises and re-raises PF, of course straddling isn't effective - the table is already LAG.

[dereeekho 0]

bizarre straddling story (warning: bad beat)1/2 NL. I straddled. First to act raises to 25, two callers to me. Looked down, have KK and go all-in for 124 total. Initial raiser called with QQ, and a guy with T8os tilt-calls just because he was getting 3:1.Flop was Q33. Turn and river were junk.Moral of story: straddling does loosen players up.

[MasterLJ 0]

Bet in the dark, sleep in the park.

[PotemkinCity 1]

it simply creates action, and where we play UTG can straddle and ponce he does, any player after that can straddle, a good example of it was when we were playing last night $1/2 nlhe, full ring. there were three very loose aggro players all sitting together 3, 4 & 5 seats and whenever theryre blinds came around there was usually two straddles, one would min straddle $4 and the other would oput in a $10 straddle, almost every round. this simply creates action and big pots, some players do not like this, but the young guns really enjoy it because at least 3 times per round there is a $30-$50 pre flop pot. I like it for two reasons, if you happent o pick up a big hand when there is $20-$50 dead money in there [i was in great position being in seat 1 for this because every time i had position on them. and if there are a few limpers to the ten, you can easily [theyre hole cards permitting] pick up a rather large pot, and likely only get a call from the original straddler as they feel committed no matter what.I personally do not straddle unless i have a large stack and feel i can bully my way around, and if i do straddle and it simply gets limped, my rule of thumb is to raise it regardless of your cards.In short, I'm in favor of straddling, and also aware of the dangers.Happy gambling

[CobaltBlue 662]

Speaking of tight images...I was playing a 5/10 LHE table tonight and noticed that some guy was chatting that he was "onto" me. I asked him what he meant, and he noted that it was blatantly obvious that I only played "top ten" hands...and that he didn't understand why anyone was giving me action. Wasn't quite sure how to react to that...mostly just brushed it off, but made a note that my ability to bluff might've been given a boost.