Last night i was playing heads up 5-10 for quite a while. I was only $1000 deep, but There was an opponent who insisted on straddling every button. I wasn't too sure how to deal with that at first, because i didnt want to straddle and play 50bb stacks. So i tightened up oop, and played less pots when he straddled on his button.

But over the course of the night said opponent was able to take me down and in hindsight i wonder is it disadvantageous for me not to straddle the button as well?

Hes playing 2x larger pots ip, while i play half the size pots when i have position.
Whats the best way to counter this, tighten up oop, or straddle and play 50bb stacks (increasing variance)


A friend of mine is telling me either buyin for 200bb and straddle every button, or dont play at all

Don't play heads up?

1 session is meaningless. Sample size = lol

Personally, I'd doublestraddle.

Do you feel like you are a capable heads up player?

What would you do if the V you played against raised ever button? How would you react?
How would that change your limping range? How would that change your raising range? That's essentially what this is. You have a villain who is blind raising every single hand from his button.

I don't know what the best adjustment is, that's why I don't play heads up, but it's something that you should know how to deal with if you're going to be playing. Esp at these stakes.

I felt i was a better player than my opponent.


In hindsight, im playing 5-10 when i have position, and hes playing 10-20 whn be has position. That is a very difficult to overcome

if you both agree to straddle just change the blinds to 10/20 ffs

Yeah straddling btn HU at 100bbs is probably +EV.

Just adjust as if someone was min raising 100% of their buttons.

But then he straddles to $40.

This. You don't need to straddle yourself.

And the proper adjustment is to play less hands oop correct?
But this doesnt negate the fact that everytime i fold he wins $10

Normal heads up who dictate (a large amount of the time) raising hu on the button almost every hand. Just raise three x like 80% on button and fold out your worse 20%... I think that makes up for it. And also sac up and play a lil more oop.. What was his c bet frequency etc. need more info to know why you lost and to know truly if it was because of this straddle that caused it

I say just straddle the button every time yourself and even the playing field. If you're not comfortable with those limits then simply shouldn't be playing against this opponent heads-up.

Im comfortable playing 100bb deep up to 5-10 not 10-20. But it wasnt affecting my play playing larger pots oop. But i still felt at a disadvantage since when i had position i could only win half as much

Your friend is spot on. You play one limit at 100bb when IP and double the limit with half a stack when you play OOP. If your villain had a clue about dummying down the betsizing, we have virtually little chance here unless gigantic spread in skill level.

No. A call vs a minraise closes the action. Vs 100% minraises you'll be calling a ton. Btn straddle is superstrong with villain having the option to raise vs a call. The only way it wouldnt matter is if you were only 3b or folding pre facing 100% minraise, which is terrible.

Not sure why you are playing HU 5/10 in the first place unless villain is just terrible. The rake should kill you. I didn't realize you could straddle HU but you are clearly at a major disadvantage if he is the only one straddling. Why didn't you just say you wouldn't play if he straddles?

I would assume the dynamic the straddle creates is similar to a full ring blind vs blind situation where the big blind is essentially the small blind and the straddle is essentially the big blind.

Rake was times at $6 per half hour so it was fine. I felt i was better than my opponent, looking back the straddle really hurt me

Yeah i agree.
Could you clarify more on what you mean when you say villian "dummying down sizing?"


Also if we are playing 3 ways, is it still advatageous to straddle evey btn?

Yeah you're right. It's more like playing from the SB every hand. The one advantage BB has in heads up is getting last to act preflop and that gets taken away.

Timed rake heads up sounds pretty awesome.

So if we are playing 3 ways, is it still a good idea to straddle the btn every time?

I mean, im probably playing like 50% or more of my range otb when 3 ways, so it seems btn straddling is pretty good?

The only time it seems bad is when were playing 4 players or more, since we should be folding more from the btn, the more players there are.

Your friend is right.

And also I advocate straddling btn when you are three handed. You have to be comfortable playing a wider range though, regardless you should be playing a huge range 3-handed.

So if he's button-straddling, thus acting last, then you don't straddle, he acts last again...I wonder why he beat you out.

I really don't get straddling HU. If you want to change the stakes, change the stakes. But straddling just half the time, thus playing 50bb half the time, but him having preflop position ALL the time, doesn't make sense at all.

Well, normally I would raise 80-90% of buttons heads up. The fact that he is straddling simply means he has to play his 62o and 83o hands, which if given the choice he would / should fold, although the difference isn't too huge, it's still a leak for him.

No, you should not fold more. 3bet more. Just pick a lower part of your calling range to 3bet with, that you don't mind having to toss if you get 4bet. Examples would be a high and low suited card, K2s, Q4s etc. and non suited connectors such as 78o, 89o. You must put pressure on his straddles consistently. Heads up it is vital to get as agro as possible without quite spazzing, especially versus a fullring player who will normally nit it up too much.

So, as a standard, my 3bet range would be AT+, KT+, 22+, high-low suited and off suit connectors. Flatting range would be suited connectors and gappers, weak aces, some broadways hands and J9, Q8 stuff. Folding range would be any nonsuited nonconnected non ace with a card lower than a 6.

Then adjust according to his play.

For you buttons, don't straddle, just minraise T4o and better.

If we straddle we get to act last so..Probably is a good idea to if allowed