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I was playing 1-2 NL at a casino and sometimes I would have to call 4 dollars instead of 2 dollars, and the reason was becuase of a live stradle. Can someone tell me what a live stradle is and what the reason is for doing it.

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I was playing 1-2 NL at a casino and sometimes I would have to call 4 dollars instead of 2 dollars, and the reason was becuase of a live stradle. Can someone tell me what a live stradle is and what the reason is for doing it.
A live stradle is when UTG puts in a min-raise without looking at their cards.Done to loosen up a game.
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Live straddle means that you are Under The Gun and you put in double the big blind in the dark with action on the end. In other words, you are doubling the big blind in the dark and after the big blind acts you still have the chance to raise.Why do it? a few reasons, first reason - Piss people off. Some people don't like to have the limits or blinds raised. if you are playing 1-2 NL you want to play 1 - 2 NL not 2 - 4 NL. A second reason is to generate action. When a person Live Straddles they have raised without seeing their cards so others still in the hand will often act more aggressively because the additional money in the pot is a random hand and might be a 7-2 offsuit hand.Hope that helps.

A live stradle is when UTG puts in a min-raise without looking at their cards.Done to loosen up a game.
Don't forget that in a "Live" straddle you are still entilted to action on the end.
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As the other person replied, but to add a little more info...UTG does this to effectively "raise the stakes" for that hand. He also has the last option of raising before the flop. So, if he gets a good hand and there have been a bunch of limpers (as is very often the case in live games) then he can make a huge bet and take down a large pot without seeing the flop. A stradle doesn't have to be 2X the bb. It can also be 3X if the person chooses. Also, most casinos will allow re-stradles so that UTG + 1 can RE-stradle making it $8 to go for that hand if UTG has already stradled. I've seen up to 5 re-stradles turning a $1/$2 game into a $32 game before.

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i've found people who aren't familiar with playin with the straddle often make the mistake of thinking it's a kill (in limit of course) and think that the bets are doubled for each round. its just a single raise in the dark, and doesn't affect the later rounds.

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I was playing 1-2 NL at a casino and sometimes I would have to call 4 dollars instead of 2 dollars, and the reason was becuase of a live stradle. Can someone tell me what a live stradle is and what the reason is for doing it.
To clarify, along with raising the bet UTG, the straddler acts last preflop and he may raise again if he'd like.
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A lot of times people straddle to look cool... Sometimes if I'm in the BB I'll reraise his straddle w/o checking my cards... Straddlers like to think they've taken control of the hand, but you can easily take that away... In my opinion it's way more useful in limit than in NL... If you're playing $1/2 NL and they make it $4 to go, thats not going to deter many people away as opposed to straddling at a $20/40 limit game...

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I usually straddle a few times when I first sit at a table, just to try to shake my tight image.Other than for that purpose, is it definitely a -EV play, however, if you get lucky and pick up a big hand in the straddle, it is very good, as you normally wouldn't get much action raising UTG.

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As the other person replied, but to add a little more info...A stradle doesn't have to be 2X the bb. It can also be 3X if the person chooses. Also, most casinos will allow re-stradles so that UTG + 1 can RE-stradle making it $8 to go for that hand if UTG has already stradled. I've seen up to 5 re-stradles turning a $1/$2 game into a $32 game before.
OK, I don't know where you play, BUT, where I play in California, Vegas. A "live straddle" can ONLY be double the Big Blind. not 3x or more as you mentioned, and NO WAY can you "re-straddle". This sounds like a home game to me. Additionally the house will not allow a live straddle in a game where there is a jackpot attached to it (in california).Yes it is to get action, but it also buys you last to act pre-flop.
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in the 1-2 AND 2-5 nl game i play at the small (six tables) riverboat casino, they allow live straddle for ANY amount (including all in) from any position excepting the blinds. It gives last action preflop only from utg though. button straddles are obviously a nice mixup strategy to shake things up. Of course, in that game things are usually pretty shaken up already without straddling.

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OK, I don't know where you play, BUT, where I play in California, Vegas. A "live straddle" can ONLY be double the Big Blind. not 3x or more as you mentioned, and NO WAY can you "re-straddle". This sounds like a home game to me. Additionally the house will not allow a live straddle in a game where there is a jackpot attached to it (in california).Yes it is to get action, but it also buys you last to act pre-flop.
I restraddle every time I am utg+1 and some one straddles. I do this in limit and often the next person will do it. I have seen it where it is capped preflop all the time blind. It is fun to do every now and then. Of course it is -ev but in a 4-8 game sometimes its fun. Yes you can do it in casinos at least in Wa with jackpots.
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it's only -ev if you are a moron about it, the only time you should ever straddle is when a game is tight enough that you're willing to spend a few extra big blinds to loosen it up... i also generally only straddle when i can get a couple people at the table to do it with me.

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in the 1-2 AND 2-5 nl game i play at the small (six tables) riverboat casino, they allow live straddle for ANY amount (including all in) from any position excepting the blinds. It gives last action preflop only from utg though. button straddles are obviously a nice mixup strategy to shake things up. Of course, in that game things are usually pretty shaken up already without straddling.
if you dont have last action preflop than its not a live straddle. It's just a blind bet.
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I play poker clubs in NYC and casinos in AC. The games are pretty wild. Pre-flop raises are typically 10X the bb or more. Straddles are very common and re-straddles can get out of control. FWIW, watch high stakes poker and listen to the background discussion. They are constantly telling each other to straddle and a few stradle hands even made it to TV if you pay attention. So, I guess smart player stradle sometimes too.I rarely do it and when I do, it's a re-stradle. People are typically scared that you really plan on making a move on the hand so their very particular about what hands they'll enter with. You can really put people on hands when you've re-stradled and been called.

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I have seen a straddle rock played everyone agreed to it. one guy in a 2 5 game rubberbanded his chips togather and who ever was under the gun had to put in the straddle rock when they had it. was good for the game and kind of fun.

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I restraddle every time I am utg+1 and some one straddles. I do this in limit and often the next person will do it. I have seen it where it is capped preflop all the time blind. It is fun to do every now and then. Of course it is -ev but in a 4-8 game sometimes its fun. Yes you can do it in casinos at least in Wa with jackpots.
I have scene this done also but, all but the first is just a raise in the dark and if knowone raises after you, you are not live. that is the way it is at all vegas rooms that i have played
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