Straddle is when a player places a bet before receiving the cards in his hand. Before the cards are dealt each poker player could decide to straddle by betting the double big blind (BB). Other players must either call or raise the bet placed. Different institutions have a different rules regarding straddle, who and also when can do it, as well as its scope.
- You make straddle before you’re dealt your two hole cards, so it’s considered a blind bet
- The person who bets a straddle is the last one who acts after the hole cards are dealt and before the flop.
- Usually, the straddle is not allowed to play in tournaments, online games, and some casinos.
If you have played a lot of games or are interested in poker, you have probably heard about No-Limit Games, which have no limit on the bet that a player can make. The rules in casinos for straddling in such games can be different, but if it is allowed, the same No-Limit rule is used for straddling.
Should the player straddle or not? Straddling is a not good idea and better avoid it. The only advantage of this action is that the player will have the right to bet last after the first round of betting. Other players could raise the bet and you could waste a winning.
What is straddle, UTG straddle, Mississippi Straddle, and Un-capped Straddle in poker?
- UTG straddle – standard straddle; Before the cards are dealt the Under the gun player makes a double BB.
- Mississippi Straddle – Before the cards are dealt ANY player can make straddle before flop.
- The Un-Capped Straddle – Before the cards are dealt ANY player can make ANY straddle before flop.
Although it is usually not advisable to use straddle, there are cases when you can use it. For example, when you are bored or the stakes in the game are too low for you. If you are in a button position straddle becomes a great option for you, because you can act last both before and after the flop. Use a straddle to take advantage of passive players or players who play loose pre-flop.
What is straddle in poker online?
Unfortunately, most online casinos do not use straddle in their games, so many players who learned to play online have never encountered it. Because of this, the appearance of straddles in the game can confuse them and give you a short advantage.
Straddle is an easy way to lose money. From a mathematical point of view, Straddle does not give you an advantage and forces players to rely on their luck, which is not very popular with players who do it seriously and for money, as it can be compared to playing poker without seeing your own hand. But if you play for fun and feel that the game has slowed down and become boring, take the opportunity to knock the players out of the rut and speed things up. No one can forbid you to play straddle if the casino rules allow it.
