When to use the straddle
Ok, this is going to open some debate. Remember, this is MY opinion.
I straddle most often when it’s allowed on the button AND when the two players to my left (those in the small and big blind) are either tricky or highly skilled. I want them to act first. Why?
My style of play (loose aggressive and trusting my usually accurate reads) works best when I have a lot of information, in position. Without the straddle, I am still apt to call a lot raises with marginal or speculative hands on the button against opponents I can tag or read well. I think I’m right to do so as I’ll have all the information I need for the rest of the betting rounds. If I flop a good draw, I’m in position. If I think he missed and is following up, I’ll make him pay dearly. That’s my game. I’m not here to defend that, my hourly rate over the last 1000 hours justifies it.
But I have some good reasons to justify the cost of the straddle to get skilled opponents out of the hand as early as possible:
With a tricky or skilled opponent on my left in the blind I’ll straddle on the button (90%):
Here are three other good reasons to straddle on the button:
All of that, and simply acting last preflop is worth two big bets to me.
When you believe the conditions are in your favor to straddle on the button, ask yourself this question – is the person on my immediate left tight and/or passive? If so, consider straddling on the cut-off (button plus one). This is an even bigger advantage because most often, you’ll be the last player to act twice a round, while everyone else will only act last once (except the guy on your left, who only acts last when he has a real hand, so like 20% of the time he has the button).
Here’s a situation I think you should ALWAYS straddle: you’ve missed your blinds, want to come back in THIS HAND and you’re in late-mid to late position (button plus three or closer). Instead of posting a dead small and a live big, straddle. When you post the dead small and the big, you’re in for 1.5 blinds while anyone who wants to play only pays 1 blind. That sucks. If you straddle instead, you post 2 bigs (no dead small) and everyone coming in has to put up 2 bigs. That’s fair! AND YOU GET TO ACT LAST. So, you can decide not to straddle, forfeit .5 of a blind and act without all the info. Or you can straddle, pay .5 more, forfeit nothing and get position preflop. Hmmm.
I also ALWAYS straddle when it’s three handed. The benefits of this play would take a long time to explain, but it almost always boils down to ‘position and aggression is everything short handed,’ so just do it. However, if you’re not comfortable with short handed play, get out of there!
And I almost ALWAYS straddle four-handed. I like all the benefits of doing it three-handed. I will consider not straddling if the button starts picking up on what I’m doing and kicks up his aggression.
When NOT to use the straddle
When it is right NOT to straddle? Most of the time, you don’t want to straddle. It will increase your variance significantly and only moderately increases the variance of the average player at your table. How’s that? I’ll let someone else take a crack at explaining the straddle’s impact on your hourly. That’s an article in itself. When done at the right times and in the right spot, it helps your hourly a bunch and allows you to maximize your skill.
When is it right NOT to straddle on the button? I won’t straddle if there’s a lot of preflop raising in the game AND a lot of callers. I typically change my style of play to a tighter, more aggressive style when playing in a loosey-goosey game. In those games my straddle essentially gets lost in the action so I save it to help my hourly.
When is it right NOT to straddle on the button? DO NOT straddle if you don’t play well in awkward situations. Some guys just don’t and be honest with yourself. Straddled pots typically get attacked on the flop and you’ll be forced in to some weird corners. << Is that bet a follow-up? Is that a real hand? Is 10-4, top pair no kicker good here? >>
When is it right NOT to straddle on the button? When there are four or five other talented players at the table, you don’t want to straddle because more often than not, you’ll be in awkward situations against a player or players who play well anyway. You don’t want to bring random cards to war too often if you’re playing against a tough lineup. Yes, they have a hard time putting you on a hand but they’ll play strong enough to compensate for that.
When is it right NOT to straddle on the button? If you’re killing the game already, don’t bother.
Closing / Word of Caution
There’s still so much to be written on the subject. I understand how the straddle impacts me mentally, how and when it helps my hourly and I know how to play against it, but it would take some real effort expressing any of those concepts in a column. And frankly, after 3,273 words on the subject, I’m straddled-out. Chris is always looking for good articles; maybe you’d like to take a shot at one of those topics. Go ahead, you’ll save me the hassle and you’ll get to see your name in print.
I can’t leave you without a warning: when you straddle, you’re loosening up the table AND yourself. Be careful when you start straddling. Don’t allow yourself to get TOO LOOSE and don’t DEFEND your straddle like it was your only roll of toilet paper on a two-week camping trip. The straddle has a magical power. Use it for good, not evil. People will think you’re loose. People will think you’re gambling. Excellent. You’re not though. When you straddle, be sure you’re making the most profitable play you can.
I hope you had one hell of a ride learning about the straddle. Now go out there and appear to ‘gamble.’
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