{"id":7038,"date":"2021-11-18T14:15:51","date_gmt":"2021-11-18T14:15:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bettingwebsites.org.uk\/?page_id=7038"},"modified":"2021-11-22T19:27:55","modified_gmt":"2021-11-22T19:27:55","slug":"straddle-bet","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bettingwebsites.org.uk\/articles\/poker-guides\/straddle-bet\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is The Straddle Bet in Poker?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Over the years, there have been many different types of poker betting strategies implemented by players. Some of these have gone on to be very successful, and mirrored around the world, while others remain secrets, and rarely used, even today when online play allows these to spread much faster.<\/p>\n
Here we are going to look at the straddle bet in poker, which can also be known as straddling. Some people will know this and will use it as part of their playing strategy on a regular basis, while others will not know what it is, or how to use it. Here we will take a look at the rules surrounding the straddle bet, the dangers of using it and the good side, including strategies to make this work for you.<\/p>\n
A straddle bet is a voluntary blind bet, that you will place on the table before the cards are dealt. What you are doing here is buying the big blind and doubling the stakes. As a minimum, the straddle bet is double the cost of the big blind, but there are games where this can be bigger, so you can place an even bigger bet on the table.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s look at a game example here.<\/p>\n
You are playing no limit hold\u2019em, with $1\/$2 stakes in play. Before the cards are dealt, if you want to place a straddle bet then you will have to put $4 down on the table, this is double the amount of the big blind.<\/p>\n
From here, anyone who wants to see the flop has to commit to the straddle bet, rather than the big blind, so the cost to see the flop on this table becomes $4 for this round. By doubling the big blind, you are instantly creating a scenario where the pot value will rise more dramatically, leading to a game of higher stakes.<\/p>\n
We have already mentioned the first rule of a straddle bet and this is the amount it costs. Most tables make this double the amount of the big blind, as shown in the example above. However, there are some games where the straddle can be higher, so look out for these, as you can then add a bigger multiple of the big blind if you want to.<\/p>\n
Most rooms only allow the under-the-gun player to place a straddle bet, so depending on where you are sitting will determine whether you can place a straddle bet on that round or not. Some games offer other players the chance to place a straddle bet too, such as the button position. Again, this is information you need to find out about your specific gaming table before you start playing if you are looking to straddle.<\/p>\n
The straddle also causes a change to the order of betting, though this is only valid for pre-flop betting and when the game moves onto the next stage, the original betting order comes back into play. The change made put the player who placed the straddle bet in the position where the big blind bet would come from. This means they are last to act before the flop, and it is at this point where things go back to normal.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If you are looking to get involved with straddling, and you would like to find ways in which you can use this then here are some examples of strategies where you can use it to your advantage.<\/p>\n
Straddling can work when you are playing on a loose table. What we mean by this is that you are playing on a table where your opponents are calling on a small pre-flop bet but folding if they feel pressure post-flop.<\/p>\n