Hey all, I play in a live O8NL game where the blinds are $1/$1. Most people buy in for $100.

I pretty much never straddle as I don't see a legitimate reason to unless I raise big after being called by several players.

Any insight on the straddle (after bb) would be appreciated.

Thanks.

If you don't think that it gives you an edge, then don't do it. Unless all players explicitly agree to, and others play it poorly. (So you gain an edge that way)
Especially if you only buy in for 100bbs, it just makes the game play much bigger, much shallower, and with higher variance/lower edge because you're shallower stacked.
It's generally just gamblers who like to do it, or ballers who just want to pump up the stakes. Although unless it's a button straddle, which is different.

Do you want to cut your SPR in half? If so, straddle.

FYP

I always find people attack your blinds lighter and if you have an edge on the table that's always a good thing

I don't understand.

Do you mean your opponents attack your straddles? (And if so, how is that a good thing).
Or do you mean your opponents will attack your big and small blinds with weaker starting hands if you straddle? (And if so, how is that a good thing).

Yes, of course. Do you have an edge when opponents "attack your blinds lighter"? How so?

I'm not arguing... I'm simply trying to understand your meaning.

Buzz

Yeh sorry i meant Straddle not blinds was tired when i posted,

Generally means the pots gets bigger and people have worse hands trying to steal the extra dead money and if your the best player at that table that's always going to be a good thing.

As said above though, the pot being bigger isn't a good thing. SPR is less, unnecessarily higher variance etc.
It would only be marginally good if people really just put too much in with bad hands pre because of it (and you can then maybe push your equity vs those hands pre), but I don't think that is that often. People also seem to like to limp vs straddles more than they would otherwise.

Thanks for clarifying.

Buzz

Yet another mind-blowing thread. How can voluntarily posting an extra blind be a decent play is beyond my comprehension.

How much do you think straddling loses on average? My guess is at least 0,7bb. That means that your win rate from UTG goes down 70bb/100.

I think im confused. When i straddle your buying position, or is it different in your games?

I am talking about UTG straddle. I understand that in UK button straddling is standard, and that is a completely different issue.

The straddler immediately doubles the amount posted by the big blind and then has the option of raising after all the other players have acted on the first round.

UTG gains position by this move, having the option of acting last on the first betting round (rather than first).

Button straddles (where allowed) are an immediate raise doubling the big blind. In addition, Button has the option of raising again after all the other players have acted. Thus by straddling Button gains position over the blinds for the first betting round.

Before you (pandick) posted in this thread, I thought there were two reasons some players straddled:
(1) to gain position on the first betting round, and
(2) for table image reasons (perhaps to appear wild).

But you have given a third reason that makes sense (at least to me).
(3) You straddle because when you do, the rest of the table loosens up in order to try to take advantage of you - and in so doing, they play more poorly so that you are actually able to take advantage of them!

Buzz

Oh if you meant that you are last to act pre-flop, sure, you are. The value of that is pretty small anyway. If someone raises, the situation is exactly the same had you min-raised blind UTG.

Meh. Obviously, a straddle gets contested more often than a minraise utg..

I don't understand what you are saying. I said min-raise blind UTG. That is what a straddle is, with the exception that you have the option if there are limps but no raises. For some reason many people are under the illusion that this option makes straddling somehow a decent play.

Apologies, did not get from your post that you meant you would do it blind..

Oh I wouldn't, and I wouldn't straddle either.

straddle makes the game play bigger, good players should want the game to play as big as possible IMO..

Raising blind (=without looking at the cards) also makes the game play bigger and that can be done in any position, not just UTG.