Should straddles be considered good for the game?

anbu210

anbu210

Rock Star
Platinum Level
Joined
Aug 6, 2021
Total posts
190
IN
Poker Chips
254
Casino Coins
0
  • #1
Should straddles be considered good for the game?
 
  • Like
Reactions: flamenkit154
Jillychemung

Jillychemung

Flying on Asphalt
Loyaler
Joined
Feb 7, 2008
Total posts
8,570
Awards
6
US
Poker Chips
306
Casino Coins
0
  • #2
IMHO the only straddle that should be allowed in the single UTG straddle. Button straddles nit up the game and multiple straddles also do this. Straddles from any position just add confusion in the game.
 
  • Like
Reactions: flamenkit154
G0930

G0930

Captain Fathermucker, Satty Aficionado
Loyaler
Joined
Apr 17, 2015
Total posts
10,186
Awards
6
AT
Poker Chips
1,425
Casino Coins
35
  • #3
anbu210 said:
Should straddles be considered good for the game?
Depends on what you define as good.
straddles are useful to build pots. It is common to have a straddle and re-straddle in cashgames.
some always make one and some do it when they are on tilt and hope to restack fast.
And sometimes , just for fun :)
 
BillyR23

BillyR23

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Sep 8, 2013
Total posts
3,260
Awards
5
RO
Poker Chips
1,115
Casino Coins
5
  • #4
Should straddles be considered good for the game?

I also think that it depends on the games, players involved... what I can say is that in my home games (we're mostly recreational gamblers* not everyone are even playing much poker except this friendly games...), we like to straddle as it makes things more fun and/or loosen tight players, helps with building big pots and keeps the game more entertaining.
 
Lodestone

Lodestone

Rock Star
Platinum Level
Joined
Apr 16, 2026
Total posts
336
CA
Poker Chips
114
Casino Coins
15
  • #5
Btn straddle is kinda pointless and a bad practice IMO. They're going to be playing a wide range anyways and have position.

I don't mind restradles but anything beyond regular straddlesI don't really like.
 
RENEY444

RENEY444

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
Mar 11, 2016
Total posts
1,247
Awards
1
Poker Chips
79
Casino Coins
5
  • #6
Let your opponents straddle if they want . Just don't do it yourself ! As for a required one , it just makes the game much bigger .If you are comfortable in a bigger game go for it .
 
hardongear

hardongear

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Nov 20, 2022
Total posts
1,519
CA
Poker Chips
1,108
Casino Coins
5
  • #7
No straddles are horrible for rec/hobby players which is what a the majority of the poker world is made up of I think sometimes everyone forgets this little fact. But many things poker does is bad for the majority but only gets done because it's good for the high stakes crowd who make up likely less then 5% of the total players.

Good luck getting me to straddle. I have this argument almost every time I go to my local casino. My final answer always comes down to 4 words cause they never seem to stop or get it the first 100 times...."I'm not f**king straddling." If I want I more money in the pot I'll raise or re-raise more then my normal amount.

Cheers!!!
 
M

Marcos1315

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 15, 2021
Total posts
180
BR
Poker Chips
57
Casino Coins
0
  • #8
I played once and didn't like it. It was always the same player. The player to his left was always the first to act pre-flop and was always at a disadvantage. It's crazy to be the small blind or big blind and have to be the first to act pre-flop. There's no way to be profitable.
 
FoxMS

FoxMS

Legend
Bronze Level
Joined
Jul 1, 2019
Total posts
1,096
Awards
1
Poker Chips
93
Casino Coins
0
  • #9
anbu210 said:
Should straddles be considered good for the game?
It all depends on the game. Your game. If you play at a beginner level, you will play at that level whether there is a straddle or not.
 
flamenkit154

flamenkit154

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 24, 2023
Total posts
72
DZ
Poker Chips
280
Casino Coins
0
  • #10
Honestly, straddles are a massive blessing for the game, especially in live poker. It lowers the effective stack sizes, builds bigger pots pre-flop, and forces the nits out of their comfort zone. When people start playing blind money, the action just naturally explodes.I completely agree with @Jillychemung on button straddles though—they totally ruin the game. It completely kills the natural positional advantage of the blinds and makes everyone play way too tight.Keep the single UTG straddle to juice up the action and create massive pots, but ban the rest!
 
MAFNL16061986

MAFNL16061986

Rock Star
Platinum Level
Joined
Apr 12, 2025
Total posts
394
NL
Poker Chips
402
Casino Coins
5
  • #11
tbh i am not a fan of straddles on the tabble i prefer normal play and bettings
 
Top 10 Games
Top