1-3 NLH
Mississippi straddles allowed
Straddle size fixed at 2x BB so $6 in this game
No restaddle allowed

So V1 misses his BB. Three hands later V1 returns in cutoff and straddle back in. However, V2 now button also puts out a straddle. Normally, button has precedence for MS straddles. In this case, room rule is the missed blind straddle gets precedence because blind was missed.

I have not come across this rule before. I don’t understand the reasoning. The missed blind could still post to come in, he could wait and straddle next hand if those with precedence don’t straddle or he could not skip his blinds. Wasn’t me luckily but allowing V1 to voluntarily skip blinds and “steal” v2’s straddle seems bad plus what if both skipped their blinds, now who has precedence. This would almost seem to encourage players to sit out to straddle back in. But what if everyone decided to try this at the same time.

Is this rule as odd as it seems to me? Should the button be able to protect his position?

1) In most places you can't straddle back in on the Button if you miss your blinds. I personally don't have a problem with it except ...

... I also want them to post the dead Blind(s) in the middle in addition to the straddle.

... if missing your Blinds becomes a regular thing, then the Floor needs to step in and tell the Player to keep it to a minimum.


2) Typically if more than one position 'can' straddle then the 'most' out-of-position Player will get the nod. So in general a UTG straddle, and perhaps a SB straddle, would have first option to straddle and then work you way towards the Button. GL


PS .. There are slightly different definitions of a MS straddle, but I assume you mean that it can be done from anywhere, not just UTG and/or B.

That’s not the way in the South, at least not anywhere I’ve played at. Button usually has dibs when it comes to Mississippi straddles, followed by CO, HJ and so on.

Not sure why that card room has such a specific rule when it comes to straddles/missed blinds but it sounds like one of those things that don’t really matter anyway so I don’t care.

Answer. Yes I mean a true MS straddle. He was not straddling in on the button. He was in cutoff. V2 was button. You can’t straddle back in on button but it is common at rooms with MS to allow you to straddle in from any position except BB (no need just post as normal), SB (but can buy button) or button (button is never on you.)

As Madlex stated button normally has priority to straddle then CO then HJ etc.

I can think of a reason for this rule. I'm not making the argument, just presenting a possible explanation:

If a reentering player prefers to wait for his first opportunity to straddle, then he would not be able to predict when that will be if precedence is given to anyone behind him. Every hand, his straddle option could be nullified, and he wouldn't know about it until the point of nullification. If he could have known, then he might have just posted normally instead of missing a bunch of hands.

If that's the logic they are using, then it's a terrible reason. They are just nullifying the button's option to straddle instead. Why are they punishing the button? He's not the one who left the table.

I agree. Why should the player get to say ‘I will only come back in if I get to straddle in the CO/HJ/LJ’. He can straddle in if those behind him don’t wish to OR he can post back in regardless of those behind him. If he wants to wait until next hand and try the straddle again, that is his choice.

In most places I have been, under the gun straddle takes precedence.

That's because it's the worst position (minus the blinds).

There is a regular at a Mississippi room I used to play at a lot who liked to have a seat at the poker table but then spent a lot of time walking/playing table games/etc.

His common move was to miss the blinds, then come back and straddle into the CO. Eventually the cardroom banned the practice of straddling back in after missing the blinds, specifically because of this one guy who did it almost every orbit.

I dont think it was some angle ( he really is a degen who just likes to gamble all the time) but the rest of the regs in the game got annoyed I guess and the floor made a change.

I took a phone call and missed my SB .. short call. Came back and I told the Dealer I'd like to post OTB and I would straddle as well. There was some initial backlash but ultimately it was allowed and actually became accepted in the room .. as long as it wasn't a habit.

I'm all for getting people back into the game when they get back to the table, but you also have to step in with some common sense if the Player is working the system more often than one might expect during a session.

We had an older gentleman, not an OMC by any means, that would play an orbit and go walk for an orbit. It was amazing that he could just walk right back into his BB so consistently while walking out of the room. He might Buy The Button once in a while, but he would never post behind the Button, just extend his walk until the next BB came around. He said he didn't want to appear to take advantage of his walks and thus always wanted to come in OOP. GL

It generally with MS straddle it is the opposite. If normal was worst position has precedence then the OP would not be an odd rule since HJ is worse position than button