Up chip creek without a straddle

FlutNush

Please excuse my novice question; but I've only been playing 'live' Poker for a few months now (as opposed to my usual 'dead-as-a-doornail' Poker)... and recently came across someone who announced a Stradde. I immediately folded in case it meant I had to put my house keys on the table.

 

Can someone please explain exactly what a Straddle is, how it works, and what the benefits are?

 

Yours in moist anticipation, John

NColley

they are basically raising in the dark - 2x BB without seeing cards I think.

offshoot

its just like an extra blind i think. The advantage of straddling means rather than being first to act preflop you get to act last. The disadvantage - you have more money invested in the pot before even seeing your cards.

kirstii

Yip spot on it's like a big big blind which the player under the gun can choose to put in during a cash game, they have to put the bet in before looking at their cards and, of course, other players must match it to call.

OMahonyO

You can also get super straddles, where the person to the left of first straddle, doubles the straddle and so on, so if your at a table full of mad gamblers, it could get expensive

CLIOKID

I've seen it straddled to £64 in the £1/2 game I play at my local casino!

FlutNush

Thanks for the feedback guys, that clears things up. I'd assume you'd do this:

 

A) if it was a slow game and you fancied revving things up a notch.

 

If you were going to be under the gun, and just wanted to slide your position along.

 

Small point: what's the correct etiquette: Announce the straddle before anyone bets (and therefore influence betting... Which could be considered 'out of turn'), or wait until the bet gets to you... At which point, people could be unsure as to whether you'd look at your cards already? 

annie_duke

It's more A) than !!

You missed option C) everyones had too much to drink

It's posted along with the blinds IE before cards dealt

YoungUn

In Response to Re: Up chip creek without a straddle:

Small point: what's the correct etiquette: Announce the straddle before anyone bets (and therefore influence betting... Which could be considered 'out of turn'), or wait until the bet gets to you... At which point, people could be unsure as to whether you'd look at your cards already? 
Posted by FlutNush

Most casinos ask that the straddle is placed before any cards have been dealt, to prevent the straddler from looking for tells off other people before placing it. I think a general rule of thumb is if the person who can straddle already has 1 card, then it's too late.

FlutNush

Excellent, thanks Annie & YoungUn, 

I'll know exactly what to do at the next pub tournament... and can now let the forum revert to matters concerning online play!