Straddling in hold’em poker is a win big or die kind of a situation. A risky move to say the least, straddling works best when there’s a big pot at stake. For those who are new to hold’em poker, a straddle is a raise made before you can have a look at your hand, or before the cards are even dealt.
Often played in cash games, several tournament games do not allow straddling, straddle is used by maverick players who like to shake the table up, by raising the bar by double the blind to gauge the opponent’s reaction. Players usually choose to straddle in hold’em poker as it gets the ball rolling counterclockwise, leaving the straddler in last action or play preceding the flop.
A major move in strategic gambling, straddles can be played live, most common play, from an under-the-gun position, or in some instances, on the button.
Should you straddle in Hold’em?
Straddling is not a safe move in hold’em poker games. It isn’t very often when straddle is allowed in game play as well. More often than not, players prefer not to straddle. It is a pretty bold move to raise the blind without having a look at your hand before.
High stake games also allow for re-straddles and or double straddling, where the player after the one who calls a straddle can raise the raise before the cards are even dealt. Talk about going in blind! A majority of hold’em games that allow straddling call for a minimum raise; for instance, if the blinds are between $10-20, then the straddle has to be $40.
Imagine re-straddling a straddle, or counter straddling the re-straddle even, all of which is done blind. Calling for a straddle in hold’em poker is testing fate and luck to the limit, unless you’re a brilliant at faking calls and can easily dupe your opponent no matter the type of hand dealt.
A thorough exercise in gambling, using straddle in hold’em poker isn’t a move for the faint of heart. Though after a few many drinks and a large pot accumulated on the table, cocky players with a stack of chips like to try the table by straddling their opponents.
Although a straddle might seem like a gutsy, and, more often than not, a stupid move certain to lose you the game, there are possibilities in certain game instances where game winnings can be highly increased by choosing to straddle.
Types of straddles
You can use straddles in different ways to optimize winning. A straddle is commonly allowed in games which hold a forced blind. Games like Omaha and Hold’em allow players to bring straddling into the game. Different from a kill game, straddles can be used in all types of poker games, such as pot limit, limit and no limit poker games.
Casinos have different ways of accepting a straddle, i.e., if they do accept straddle in the game. Straddling can be allowed from a single position on the table, that is, either on the button or under the gun.
Straddling from any position, with the Mississippi option, gives the on the button player priority, with play running counterclockwise leaving under the gun as the last person to play. Whereas straddling from any position, as in the Indiana option, delivers under the gun priority play to straddle, and then switches to on the button, working play counter-clockwise around the table, leaving with the person who called under the gun last to make their move.
If a casino allows for straddle to be called before play, they often cap it to just double the blind; for example, if the blind is about 2-5 dollars, then a straddle called would be 10 bucks. Straddling without a cap is a practice invited by some casinos, with this option there isn’t a limit to the amount or the number of times a player can choose to straddle the game.
While some casinos have straddle as a mandatory approach to every hold’em game. As a player, if you find yourself at a table where everyone included calls a straddle, then it’s generally considered safe to straddle.
The downside of straddling
Straddling is often met with skepticism and restrictions. Several casinos don’t allow for this bolder than gung-ho move. Casino house rules that allow straddling impose certain factors like a valid amount that can be straddled, position of straddle, and first dibs or opportunity to straddle.
Seen more as a stun gun strategy, particularly from an under the gun straddle position, straddling can be seen as a hit or miss action in hold’em games. Raising the blind to an even larger sum can act in your favor or severely against it. With a minimum in strategic output in terms of guessing your opponents game, since the cards aren’t even dealt yet, straddling has little value.
Whereas straddling a game from a later position by re-raising a prior called straddle might work to your advantage, though this could also work against you as, the player to first call a straddle will most likely defend his hand regardless if it’s weak or strong.
Most casinos don’t acknowledge straddle as a legitimate legal play. Several casinos also see straddling as an unwanted and wrong play. A majority of the time, calling out a move like a straddle will hurt your profitability.
At the end of the day, opting to straddle comes down to personal choice and how well you’re doing in the game. A move like beginning with a straddle can often put opponents out early in the game, leaving better chances to sweep in and take the pot.