It depends on how deep the game is. If it's deep and the opener is not good postflop, then the button straddler has a significant advantage.

If the game is ~shallow (say 100bb or less, so it's 50bb when the straddle is on), then any straddle makes the game easier for the short stacks at the table.

Thanks for clarifying your UTG and blinds action typo from earlier.

So much opened up here .. browni3141 must live in a different live world than I do, which is entirely possible.

Although I understand that making stacks shorter is supposed to make in-game decisions easier we all know that most 1/2 players don't follow that lead. IMO by making stacks shorter we entice larger mistakes by weak/tight players who get sucked into bloated pots.

Perhaps not so much with other players, but when it's my B straddle there is rarely an opening raise since they are counting on me to do it for them. Thus Players can get trapped with stronger holdings OOP multi-way ... and pretty much get taken off their hand unless they smash the Flop. This is good for my stack IMO. GL

Maybe "easier" isn't the best word to use.

The weak/tight regs are still making the same decisions on their hands in straddled pots that they do in non straddled pots...because they make decisions based mostly on absolute hand value.

But, those decisions become less bad when they are 50 or 25 bb effective than they are at 100 or more bb effective.

GL to you too.

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I guess my point is that I’d like there to be a clear trade off. People should get something for the money they’re putting out.

I dont really like the BU straddle where the blinds act first. I thiink my alternative where action skips the BU is better for the blinds and about the same for the button. I’d much prefer that type.

I really hate the “straddle anywhere” that my room has, especially when the guy to my direct right likes to do it every hand.

Late to this thread, but I agree with browni3141. I hate the "straddle anywhere" that my room also has, and I particularly hate it when the guy two to my right always does it when he's the buttton and I'm the big blind. Every Damned Time.

Move to his right. I am a fan of sitting to the right of aggressive players.

If everyone wants to move to his right that's not so easy to do. Even players that are mostly clueless will notice when they are in early position preflop every single hand, and that it's not good for them.

Take it away from him and do it yourself.

I agree that the action should go to the button straddle last even in the case of a raise. I only know of one place where a button straddle has action starting UTG and that is the Venetian. IMO this is correct because starting it in the SB is in essence totally violating the rules of poker. In my opinion straddles are somewhat dangerous depending on the type of game you’re in. I usually do it when I’m playing nights or weekends I find if you do it during the weekday day game that’s on the geezer/nitty side it’s fairly common for someone who’s on tilt or just can’t envision you picked up a good hand to try to run you down with a hand they probably otherwise wouldn’t run you down with so you pick up something good and you get beat. I would rather raise with JJ straight away and win 5$ than get run down by a non believer and lose 200

I do. It is still annoying because I still lose EV by being forced to straddle.

I always try to get to his right in this situation and get the benefits of his straddle without putting any money in, but often the seats to his right don't open up for a long time.

I'm currently staying and playing at the Wynn this week and that's exactly the way that they do it here as well. It took a few rounds for me to get used to it because at the rooms that allow it where I play in Miami, SB & BB always act first when the button straddles. And in the room that allows straddles from any position (as well as for any amount), the player to the immediate left of the straddle acts first.

how come you never beat the nonbeliever and their crappy hand?

the 1/2 game at my local card room has a mandatory 2 on the bu. The only straddle is 4 UTG but the 2 on the bu is so weird. I guess it avoids chops and ensures rake but still. Makes me really think about how wide i should be defending my bu and how aggressive i should play it if it were to fold to me.