Drifter, you are right that I don't have a ton of experience playing with an MS straddle. I used to travel to Vicksburg, MS occasionally for work, and played a few sessions at the Ameristar (i think that is the name of the place) out there. My anecdotal experiences were pretty terrible. It was a 1/3 NL Holdem game, $100 min - $300 max, and half the table always had a $100 short stack. The MS straddle was on essentially 100%, as it should be if you have the option. It was essentially a preflop game since half the table had a 15bb eff stack. It reminded me of mid to late stage tourney poker, which is just not the type of game that I enjoy. I did well in the game, but it was just super boring, and I had no ability to realize my post flop edge.

My main gripe with the MS straddle is that it's inherently unfair. One of the beautiful things about poker is that everyone gets to be the button or cutoff or UTG or any other position the same number of times as everyone else at the table. And each position at the table has its inherent advantages/disadvantages, and a significant portion of these are related to preflop position. A MS straddle completely negates this inherently fair aspect of the game. If the player to your immediate right is a compulsive straddler, you're essentially handcuffed for the entire session until you can manage a seat change. Even being on the button, you'll have to adjust by tightening up significantly since you're first to act preflop. So you're either forced to deal with that or combat it by straddling yourself. And I don't like the idea of being forced to straddle just to avoid being screwed by another player's straddle. Conversely, if you're to the right of the compulsive straddler, you have a huge preflop advantage, more than any one player deserves IMO.

None of these concerns are an issue with UTG straddles. Preflop position stays relatively the same, and one player can't straddle every hand if he feels like it.

Would you be upset if the player to your right minraised blind every hand? Straddling isn't that different. You need to adjust obviously, but it's a massively profitable situation for you.

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I'm not going to weigh in on the merits of button straddle as it is basically a holy war of opinions. All I'll say is I like it in games that let me buy in deep.

However the statement above is flat out wrong. Unless one person is permitted to straddle and another is not, there is nothing unfair about it.

Same set of rules for everyone at the table can't be unfair. Just makes for a different game you can choose to play or not as you see fit.

All games without a Mississippi straddle are inherently unfair because the button is being deprived of the right to put in a blind bet and be last to act. Also, games without a Mississippi straddle play effectively deeper, which increases the edge of more skilled players, which in turn is obviously unfair to more recreational/lesser skilled players.

Straddling is massively different. You're not first to act when someone blind min-raises unless they're UTG. You don't have 8 or 9 unknown hands yet to act behind you.

As someone on Team No Straddle, I'd definitely be ok with Planet Hollywood's modified rule. Pretty sure you can only straddle your button and it has to be 5x, so $10 in their 1/2 game. Can't remember if you can straddle UTG also.

I think it's a good compromise because it drives action big relative to the stakes as mentioned, but it also addresses the concern of habitual straddlers, as if it's only their button, only your small blind hand gets modified wrt preflop action.

Just to clarify, I am not against straddles. I love UTG straddles in any form, min raise to upcapped. I love double straddles (UTG+1), tripple straddles (UTG+2), etc. I just hate the MS straddle. It is fair, but it changes the game.

Maybe I am in the minority, but I could care less about all the gimmicks like BBJ, HHJ, or MS straddles. I just want to be able to walk into my local card room and play NL TX Holdem, not NL MS Holdem, not some sort of holdem/jackpot lottery hybrid (which just increases the rake). Is that too much to ask?

Look at is this way, you won't lose players in the DC area if you don't have a MS straddle, but you will most certainly drive some players away if all games allow a MS straddle.

If you are absolutely tied to having a MS straddle, just please make the min buyin 200bb. I would likely enjoy MS holdem in that format.

What about this: straddles from all positions are allowed, but *worst* positions can take priority? So if the UTG wants to straddle and the button wants to straddle, the UTG gets priority (and button can't straddle at all).

Also, definitely allow double/triple/etc. straddles.

So much troll in one post, beautiful.

I'll bring it up again I like MS straddles, I think the action should start UTG regardless of the straddle position, skip the straddle first time around and then they act after the BB. I have seen games run like this, and I do think it gives a slight break to the blinds who get so incredibly punished by straddles in LP.

Johnny I know this may be a amateur question but will the m life card comps I get at national harbor also get me free rooms in Vegas. I've only really dealt with the total rewards program and that has drastically gotten worse.

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I like this a lot.

I think the answer is no on this, but am not 100% sure... As I get more details I will circle back to this one.

Point taken on the order of straddles.... Its a possible option...

Here's something lifted straight from the regs of MD...

(1) The rules governing the placement of a Straddle Bet and the amount of a Straddle Bet shall be specified in the facility
operator’s Rules Submission under COMAR 36.05.03.19 and posted on a sign at a Poker table.
MARYLAND STATE LOTTERY AND GAMING CONTROL AGENCY
36.05.06.12
36.05.06 Page 10
Effective as of September 14, 2015
(2) No more than one Straddle Bet may be made during a round of play.

Also if comp dollars earned at the Harbor will be useable at MGM Vegas properties?

Will we have to have to go to the desk and have our comps 'activated' to use them at the Harbor? Or will they automatically be useable like at MDL or Total Rewards properties?

I am pretty sure comp dollar here at Nat. Harbor will only be usable here. "activation" process is a good question. Very likely there will be some form of required interaction with a shift manager or supervisor to be issued a comp.

This turns into musical chairs as players switch seats to pay back the player who's been straddling their button. Better keep a LOT of numbered seat change buttons on hand.

I've never experienced people playing musical chairs in rooms that allow straddling, just a few rare people who seat change to move away from it.

I REALLY like this option.

This makes me sad. I don't understand why mlife wouldn't apply to all MGM properties? I'm not a fan of total rewards, but it's nice to call up and get a free/cheap room in AC. I guess they don't want me to stay at the aria?

Have you played in a game where the cutoff can straddle, and there's nothing the button can do about it?

A few days a week. The button can straddle, or they can play a hand with extra dead money in it with the best position post flop, or they can cry about it.

Non-transferable MLife comps across other MGM properties is a big negative. Required activation of comps or any other steps needed to use comps is a big negative.

I don't know why Mlife does it this way. But for all Vegas Mlife properties the poker comps are valid at that specific venue only. I think this only applies to poker comps though?

Except that you're UTG every hand.

Do you enjoy that?


--klez