I play in a .50/1 game and in general a lot of us straddle to take control of the action/build pots. Is it really something that is worth it?

How does straddling "take control of the action" exactly?

The main reason for straddling is that if you can get most of the people to do it, you've effectively doubled the stakes. However, you halve the chip stacks at the same time, which may not be good for you if people aren't deep.

No -EV , use the search option of the Forums

I am not a good poker player but in what I have seen the people who benefit from the straddle most are generally the other players

I created a thread on this topic and will be updating it in the next day or so with new models

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/15...heory-1194262/

In general though, the only way straddling is profitable is if you are at a weak-tight table in which you can squeeze and fold out V's preflop.

Otherwise, straddling and playing a multiway inflated pot OOP with crap cards is going to be -EV

Straddling is good for two things:

1. Increasing the stakes you play at. For example you want to play 5/10 but there's no such limit available that night. So you straddle 10 in 2/5 game making it essentially 2/5/10.

2. Loosening your image. If people view you as a nit, best way to change it is to put a few straddles or double straddles. You don't have to defend the straddle, just putting it down makes live fish happy and they start viewing you as "nice guy who wants to gamble with them"

I have never been able to improve on this classic 2+2 post on straddling:

http://archives2.twoplustwo.com/show...an=&page=&vc=1

Imo, Its not worth it often enough, that you should even bother attempting to figure out when it is opportune to straddle

If you play in a game where people are not making proper stack depth adjustments when the straddle is put on, then yes. I would say it is worth it. There is a lot of value to be had playing vs. villains who aren't adjusting to shorter effective stacks.

It's good for your image and that's important live.

I doubt any image improvements can make up for putting in an extra 2 bb per orbit.
Plus anyone could figure out youstilll play like a nit even though you straddle.

If everyone is willing to do it then great. Or if the game is crazy tight and you want to encourage some action its okay for a round or 2.

Straddling is only good if you can Mississippi Straddle. I only straddle when there are 7 or less players at the table and only on the button. I actually straddle pretty damn near every button. It livens the table and good to make a looser image. Also if you make the majority of your money from the button, why not try to maximize your profits. However I only play with the degens at local poker houses which has been my full time income for the last 3.5 years.

it tilts me alot when people straddle everytime they have the button. One time i was playing at the casino and there were 3 regs headphones and all sitting next to each other and each of them straddled on the button every orbit.

I guess its good against a tight table to lighten it up and bet the flop and steal some blinds but it is a complete dagger if you get dealt 7 2 off than what do you do

straddle a lot when stacks are mostly deep. you don't have to every time but enough to not look like a nit. increasing your chances of getting paid off 200bb+ is a lot more important than worrying about 2bb every 2-3 orbits. not to mention that you encourage fish to also straddle which is obv highly +EV.

if there's a lot of shortstackers at the table then it's kinda pointless.

Mathmetically - no

For your "image" in live poker - no.

No.

Image is highly overrated live.