In each game, the game host decides how many straddles will be allowed and their size. If you play in your local $1/2 game, you may see the UTG player posting a straddle for $4.įurther poker straddles can also be posted, with UTG+1 posting $8, UTG+2 posting $16, etc. The value of the first straddle is set at 2x the big blind, although high-stakes players sometimes allow UTG to post any amount they want, as any additional money in the pot is good for everyone else at the table. In most live poker games, the player sitting to the left of the big blind (UTG) can post a poker straddle, doubling the big blind and buying the option to act last before the flop. The key thing to know about the straddle in poker is that it must be posted before the player posting it has seen any of their cards, effectively making it just another blind bet. Other players at the table, such as the one seated on the dealer button, may be allowed to post Mississippi Straddle or other bets to spice up the action before the cards are dealt. In many live poker games, players past the UTG can post further poker straddles, doubling the blind each time. Instead, players in many cash games are allowed to post the straddle at their own convenience, with the value usually set at 2x the big blind, and only the UTG player given the option. The straddle is not a part of the original poker rules, and it is never applied in poker tournaments or forced upon players in regular cash games. What Is a Straddle in Poker?įorced bets are an integral part of poker games like Texas Hold’em and PLO, with the two players sitting to the left of the button posting the small blind and the big blind every hand.Ī straddle in poker is another blind bet made before the cards are dealt, doubling the big blind. In this article, you will learn what is a straddle in poker, when you can post a poker straddle, how it affects the game, and whether or not you should be straddling the next time you play. More recently, the best online poker sites have introduced the straddling option, while some live games see players post a straddle nearly every hand. Coming from an online poker background, most players aren’t immediately familiar with poker straddles, as they used to not be available in online poker games at all. Live poker players love to use poker straddles to spice up the action and make the game bigger as the night progresses.

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