'The Straddle' in Poker Explained

What is a straddle in poker?

The straddle is a blind bet added to the pot by the small blind with the intention of inflating the pot. The straddle is always placed by the first to act (the player UTG) after the posting of the blinds. Normally, the straddle amount will be double the big blind. Occasionally it will be more - Like 2.5bb.

The Double straddle: the SB has posted, BB posted, UTG has straddled and now the player after UTG makes it a double strabble. 

Since the straddle inflates the pot and adds even more 'dead money' to the pot, it always creates for a more action packed hand with people fighting to win the money which has been blindly contributed to the pot.

Hypothetically the straddle can go on and on until the button is the last to straddle. The action might look like this:

Seat 1 sb: Sb: $2.50

Seat 2 bb: $5

Seat 3 straddle: $10

Seat 4: Double straddle: $20

Seat 5: Triple straddle: $40

Seat 6: quadruple straddle: $80

Seat 7: quintuple straddle $160

Seat 8: Sextuple Straddle $320

Seat 9: Button ???

As we mentioned, the point of straddles to create more action! Most the times players will do this when everyone at the table agrees to do a round of them. This is so not one player has the advantage or is at the disadvantage. The player with the advantage will be the button. This is because btn is last to act so has position and can exploit the straddler/s. Straddles create more action as there is more money in the pot to fight over.

Advantages of straddling in poker:

• Bigger Games - It creates bigger games
• Creates more action - Because of the amount of blind money in to pot to be won.
• Keeps fishin the game - Fish play because they want to gamble, and with more action in the pot the fish remains interested.
• Punish The Nits