Ah ok. I was referring to this post by Lattimer but apparently this wasn't you.

Any chance at all they’ll change it? (The felt color)

Ahh longmeadow, went to longmeadow high actually. I'm in the south end of Springfield, about a fifteen minute walk from mgm. There's a lot to like about the room, much more spacious than I anticipated. They didn't help their dealers much with having the automatic shufflers not working so I can't put a lot of blame on them, everyone I saw was busting their ass from the dealers to the food service people, it was a wild opening day for them I'm sure.

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They did the night or two before it opened I heard. It was originally the color if the dealers shirts and faded towards one side of the table like the shirts do. I guess the bug wigs didn't like the color and changed it right before. Could be bull**** but that's what I heard.

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Straddling is never an advantage for the straddler. I don't like the button straddle because it makes the blinds even more of a disadvantage.

I wasn't the one that deleted it, and I just undeleted it. Mis-communique between mods, nothing more.

This sounds like something you'd hear an OMC say in a daytime 1/2 nitfest. If referring to UTG I'd agree they are correct however this discussion resolves specifically around button straddle. Here are just a few:

* You just named the first reason of why the button straddle has gained an advantage (see bolded).
* Acting last to attack greater amount of limpers/dead money.
* Forcing opponent into uncomfortable territory which can lead to mistakes, tells, etc
* Opponents are slow to adjust/adapt to a strategy which are unfamiliar
* Useful to negate strong players on your left if you have poor table seating.


In short, for a skilled player it is an even greater advantage than the one you already have in the game. Much like anything it is player skill dependent. If you are not skilled in optimal button straddle strategy you shouldn't be doing it.

Lets be real- most people do it because it makes them feel like a “real” poker player like on tv. Some do it just to have some fun. Some do it because they get off annoying people.
Some players may use it to an advantage, but honestly people just use these reasons to rationalize the above stated motivations.

If the chairs are comfortable and recline I'm all for them. The red felt is horrible and I hope will be changed out soon when enough coffees and drunks spill their drinks on them without a dedicated cup holder.

What about the disadvantage of posting your straddle for hands you would otherwise fold.
Or having to fold your committed straddle to reraises a portion of time.
And likely having to play your own blinds against button straddles.

Button straddle sounds good just saying its not all sunshine and rainbows. It’s probably not going to make a losing year a winning one.
And if everyone decides its a good idea and does it, then where’s the advantage?

About punishing the limpers- couldn’t you argue that less people might limp when facing a button straddle?

Exactly. The button straddle gives the skilled players a bigger advantage. And that’s also exactly why it shouldn’t be allowed. It’s better for the game that the less skilled rec players are made to be more comfortable.

Here’s a little thought experiment. If it’s always correct to straddle the button, then when is it ever correct to fold a button?

I do know that the felt was changed three days ago. The rest of the story, idk but your reason seems likely

It absolutely will not make a bad player a good one, or a losing player a winning one. As I referenced above, it gives a greater advantage to the button if they are a greater skilled player who uses optimal strategy.

I think the problem with the button straddle is that pretty quickly people realize that they should play much tighter when it's on. Since most people play too loose you are teaching them to play better, not something you want to do.

This has not been my experience the past 8 years traveling to the Midwest and Florida for business.

If you are a skilled player, the button straddle might be +EV. But it is less +EV than just playing your button.

This sound like it’s probably true to me. Well put

Again, I listed the advantages you have over the competition from the button above. Do you disagree on these edges that are created?

Isn't there a thread for this discussion that goes into depth about the topic?

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Yes, there is an advantage playing from the button but you are ignoring the fact that you are playing this button blind and that also carries some disadvantages.
Would you be ok if the casino ruled that you must post a big blind every button?
What if the straddle on the button was for 5x the blind, would you say that straddle is a good idea? What about 10x?

The first one is an advantage that I've already stated. However, you share this advantage with all the non-blind players so it is barely significant.

The rest of these "advantages" are based on the hope that your straddle will cause other players to make more mistakes than they otherwise would have. In my experience, that isn't very often. And it doesn't make up for all the times someone raises and you have to fold preflop, losing 2BB for nothing.

Are only skilled players allowed to button straddle? They should just not allow good poker players to play poker. They have an advantage.