Been running into some weird stuff regarding gentlemen's agreement must straddle games. In a 1-2 bring it for 5, the straddle is option 5 or 10 winner really must, no re-straddles, and a few players badger over the 5 instead of the 10, one even sitting out in the dark if not 10. The other one is 5-10 gentlemen's agreement "must," the button or UTG, UTG with precedence. But you don't really have to in this game, dealer and floor backs that up, but then there is just too much squawking if someone doesn't. They often don't inform incoming players of this. The gentlemen's agreement thing is not binding as becomes apparent when someone forgets and has a live hand and is not forced by the dealer.

So the other night two tables in a row every time I'm on the button, the UTG overrules my straddle. Then late in the session as I'm racking I don't straddle. This leads to a big production of, "There is no straddle. Where's the straddle." First two guys in raise by the code. You know, the old let's charge extra for the no straddle since it's a nit. Just all seems bogus to me. Violating no collusion (very mild but still there), violating one player per hand, violating the actual limit of the game for people being seated and not informed. I say meh. Shut up and play.

If I was running the room I think the guy with the auto fold for half straddle would probably be picked up. The room doesn't need you. Gentlemen's agreement is problematic because new players coming in haven't agreed. So it seems there shouldn't be a gray area. It's either forced straddle or optional straddle.

Isn’t it time we ditch the word ‘gentleman’?

just refuse to straddle. tell them u came to play 1/2, if they want to play 5/10 they should start a list. if they all want to straddle while you don't then all the better. personally I detest straddle bullies, and they are just trying to manipulate innocent fish into playing way higher stakes than they are ready for and hence losing substantially more money. so you need to play the righteous hero who refuses to straddle or give any action.

Sometimes it's a bit of semi-private game. They rarely get new blood in the game. When they do, they don't want it to change the set up. That's to be respected, I think. But I asked three different floor men and dealers what the game and buy in was, and got 3 different answers, of course. Then one of the combo floor/dealers came back to my table with an update of what the other game was, and he still had it wrong. When I sat it became apparent. But I like the "straddle bully" term. One dude just refused to play any pot which was half straddled, him buying in for the min. What is up with that?

If you are in an official cardroom and you don't want to straddle and the "bullies" start their "everyone does this" crap, just ask the dealer: Is this a mandatory straddle game, or a player's option? When they says "no forced straddle only optional if you'd like", then you politely turn to the bully and let them know that it is your choice.

That said, be prepared for them to come after you and have a strategy, both card wise and social, to deal with that. If you don't, you'll be miserable in the game and will likely play poorly as a result

What is a half-straddle?

When only two straddle options are allowed: say $5 and $10, and it's forced, but up to the player, usually the last pot winner.

If they’re heavy straddle bullies, I’ll avoid the straddle on principle. Then I’ll see whose feathers I ruffled for possible exploitation.

Don't be a nit and just straddle 10. And pick up before the straddle gets to you?

Guy is ridiculous for whining and sitting out obv. But seems technically within his right.

Hugh?

the guy sitting with the minimum and badgering over the straddle is kinda funny. the rest is pretty standard, whatever.

In my room at 5/5 plo we have an optional straddle but the game custom (not rule) is for everyone to straddle to $15 or $25, depending on the day. Every once in a while we get a new player unfamiliar with the structure of the game and as soon as they sit down we explain the straddle to them. 9/10 times they agree to go along with the straddle when they find out everyone is doing it.

The problem with not straddling our 5/5 game is that it's supposed to be bigger than 1/2 but because there is a $5 bring-in at 1/2, without a straddle it does not play much bigger than 1/2 so there's little point. So it really does not make sense not to straddle at 5/5.

Also, the new guy who does not straddle will be universally hated by the rest of the table, especially if the group was straddling before he/she joined. This is because (1) new person is not being a team player and (2) new person is gaining an unfair advantage by refusing to straddle.

Don't be that person please. It instantly kills the game vibe and is highly antagonistic.

I respectfully disagree with you. If the new guy (or old for that matter) doesn’t want to straddle that’s their option. The highest I’m comfortable playing is 5/5. So if I sit at that table I won’t be straddling.

Well just know that in refusing to straddle in a game in which straddling is the custom, you’d be making a lot of other players very unhappy. If that’s ok with you, more power to you. If you want people to have a good experience, then better not to be the straddle nit.

If you join a game where everyone is straddling, and you won't straddle you're an *******.

To put it more bluntly.

That's ridiculous. Do you think the same thing about poker players who play better than bad players in other ways?

Many times I'm at a table where all the other players are playing ridiculous starting hands. If I fold my bad hands, does that make me an *******?

No but you should probably loosen up or at least tell a good story. If you had head phones on being a nit you'd be a bit of a *******. Aita isn't about doing things you're allowed.

Remember when men used to play poker and not purple haired cowards?

"waa ur not playin the way i want its not fair"

The home game fish that used to get his way in every scenario cause hes a giant donater entering the casino and expecting the same treatment and theres at least 1 at every table now.

What a silly comparison. People play poker for fun - straddling is fun and creates a great atmosphere which actually increases a winning players winrate! So go ahead ruin the fun, watch that game dry up/disappear, and ultimately hurt your bottom line in the long run. If you have any level of intelligence and find a juicy live game, you want to work with the players to keep it fun/loose.

Straddling is an option. I never straddle immediately when I enter a new game cos I want to take some time to get a feel for the table.

There are other options that include bomb pots and run it twice. I always do those. But I don’t think anything negative about anyone who opts out.

That’s why it’s called an option.

In games where I have had a gentleman's agreement to straddle, we usually inform the dealer that we have made such an agreement and a player who was supposed to straddle is generally allowed to put the straddle out when it would normally be too late. Players should also inform new players if they want to keep it going, although the new player has the right to not participate.

Complaining about people raising more because no one straddled is silly. It's not collusion.

The short-stacker wants the bigger straddle so that there's more money in the pot when he jams all-in pre.

I generally don't go against the table if everyone else wants to straddle, but if a player doesn't want to when they don't have to, I will speak out against bullying that player. If you can't figure out how to play against a nit, then you're not that good at poker.

Jolly well said BD.

If we are playing for a while and we agree with straddle for N rounds, or forever, then whatever.

But once a new person sits down it's kind of shitty to immediately say "oh btw the game is actually unofficially higher than advertised".
And so so often I see it at PLO games where the "regs." do this kind of thing and it chases away all the new players, and then they wonder why nobody else is playing and their game dies.


Imagine you sat at a 1-2 game with a 100-300 buyin and someone started complaining because unofficially this game was actually 250-750 buyin.

Also would always assume that a 1-2 PLO game would play higher than a 2-5 NLHE game, so lolz about needing the straddle to have it be bigger.

100% agreed.

As I’ve mentioned, I never straddle immediately in new games until I’ve learned about my opponents and how the table is playing.

If a straddle bully starts giving me a hard time, I simply respond “the straddle is an option, no?”

The typical response is “but everyone is doing it” to which I simply reply “and that is their option”.