Couldn't find this specific situation in my donk-search, so I thought I'll ask here. In a game that allows straddles from UTG and re-straddles thereafter, what should a player's options be if someone chooses to blind raise, say from the UTG+2 or some other non-UTG position (assume no straddle posted this hand).

If it's 1/2 NLHE, and someone in UTG+3 blind raises to $25 preflop before anyone else acts, what options does UTG have? Can he limp with $2 (let's say UTG+1 has a huge stack and while UTG doesn't mind paying the $25 he doesn't want to put $25 and have UTG+1 push).

If no one puts in more than $25 before it gets to the blind raiser, is he frozen with his $25 bet or can he raise more?

I know home game rules are decided amongst players involved, just trying to get a feel for what's customary.

A blind raise is done from UTG in games where no straddle is allowed. It's not allowed in other positions because it's acting out of turn. If the players want this they can make up their own rules but it's silly.

I don't understand the question. A blind raise isn't a straddle, it's a raise same as if the person looked at the cards. If you do it when not first to act you're acting out of turn and should be admonished to cut it out.

He doesn't get last action, it's a blind raise. IMO blind raises should be binding no matter WHAT action precedes them, unless said action would amount to a full reraise of the blind raise.
That's not standard b&m procedure, of course.

If the house allows the blind raise in a straddle game, then UTG can put in any amount between $2-$25 without reopening the betting for UTG3's blind raise. However, that puts UTG2 in a really bad spot, because UTG might be allowed to "limp" for $20.... and still have a raising action?


If UTG wants to reopen the betting for UTG3, he has to put in a minimum of $48. UTG3 would still not get last action- he would have to act in turn (and may have no action allowed).

(actually, could UTG come in for $47 and still prevent UTG3 from having an action other than fold/call? This gets uglier the more I think of scenarios)

Also note that you'll have to decide if UTG to UTG2 can straddle as normal, for an amount less than the $48 that they "should" be straddling for. If they can't, then UTG3 has found a weapon to delay straddling... while giving last action to UTG2 rather than the normal straddle UTG.

You can see why this could be a game-dampening option, with a lot of arguments.... and a great collusion tool. I would recommend against allowing blind raises in a straddle game- too many problems to deal with.

Yeah, but the guy who wants to do it is an action junkie who straddling once an orbit isn't enough for him ;-)

But, yeah, it's silly, and Larry's well-explained post made me realize it'll open up a can of worms.

Thanks for the replies.

See, that's why I'm the mod and he is just some weirdo with a freaky nephew for his avatar

Then he can do what my former player did- put in escalating blind raises for everyone in between... and another blind re-raise for himself.

(the time I woke up with Queens to his right was oh-so-wonderful...)