Let's say we're playing $2/$5 and there is a $10 straddle and we have $500. If there's no straddle then we're a playing a 100BB game. Some people would say that with a straddle we're playing a 50BB game and should adjust accordingly.

So I have this question. Let's say that we're not comfortable stacking with AQs with 100BB but are comfortable doing so at 50BB (arbitrary but let's assume this is our situation). So if we assume that a straddled game is truly 50BB then we should stack off with AQs.

... But what if no one else at the table makes the adjustment? To their ranges, etc.? What if everyone else kept their preflop stackoff ranges (and other ranges) just as they were at 100BB e.g. AKo+, QQ+. Then stacking off with AQs would be just dumb, wouldn't it?

So I'm confused.

Yup. It's a dichotomy. In this case, I would keep AQs out of my PF stack-off range except against Vs (of which there are many) who aggressively 3-bet to protect their straddles and maybe a few others (once we have good reads).

Unless you're talking about pure GTO strategy, this isn't going to really go anywhere with nameless, faceless opponents and no positions.

Whether or not I stack off with a hand for any amount depends on what I think my opponents' PFR/3b/4b/5b ranges are. At my games, it's fairly rare that I 3b AQ or continue to a 3b with it, especially in straddled pots. That's not near so much a commentary on the strength of AQ as a "stacking off hand" as it is a statement about my usual opponents' opening ranges / 3b ranges / continue to 3b ranges / etc.

6m on PS in 2010, I was very often stacking of with AQo 100bbs deep without much thought.

How deep we are playing is more of a function of the raise size. If your typically 2/5 game has opens of $20 to $35 then in order to be 50bbs effective in your example opens would need to be $40 to $70. Straddled games rarely play as deep as their non-straddled counterparts (ie opens in 5/10 will tend to be larger than a straddled 2/5 game).

come up with some assumptions about villain open and stackoff ranges then model the ev of jamming AQ from the blinds with 50bb vs 100bb and see what you find

Just remember that pot odds don't change.

What are you talking about, Op? Other than folding pre, how can someone not change their range? The amount we bet is generally a function of how much is in the pot, so if the pot's bigger, we're going to bet more. We have to, to protect our hands, to get proper value with strong hands, to get folds with bluffs.

I hate shallow stack straddle games for this reason. It gives less edge to skilled players and cause more gambling and action which the fish like because they can't get outplayed on multiple streets. All the money goes in on the flop a lot in these games. So I tend to avoid these kind of games unless they are deeper stacked. They can be quite profitable however if we are deep or if we can button straddle. We are never stacking off with AQ pre regardless because most players look at the straddle as a raise and any kind of PF raise is super strong and pretty tight range. We COULD shove/raise over several limpers if we have something like AQ or AQ and usually pick up an easy 50 or 60 bucks uncontested if they are weak/tight. But still be careful and aware of their ranges.

You must have not played a lot of games with straddles, because AQ is easily way ahead of most opening ranges in straddles.

The bet-count thing gets a little confusing with a straddle. So just to clarify.. you mean guys who raises their own straddle or you mean guys who straddle, then someone pops it and they repop?

Stack depth has some relevance but what's more important is AQ's comparable hand strength vs the field, which i assume is still a 9-handed game. A shorter handed game will have more impact on a hand's 'stack-off-ability'

And this is the answer. It doesn't depend on the rules you make up for yourself. It depends on how the villain will play. It also depends on the action and how is remaining in the stacks. If I have $1 left and get shoved on, I'm calling with 72o pf.

Therefore, I'm locking this. Please do not repost this with your generic young TAG grinder who respects your game.

The second. Lots of ego-driven types love to straddle and then re-raise huge if someone opens.

As venice says, this is all very villain dependant, but since most people adjust poorly to straddles, I would not loosen my PF stack-off range without evidence that they have. I would open a bit looser, as there's more to steal, but I'd still be folding to most 3-bets with the looser part of that range, except against specific Vs (most often the straddler).