Texas Holdem Mississippi Straddle
When we speak about straddling in Texas Holdem, we mean doubling the big blind into the pot before the start of the game. Straddling is common in Omaha and Texas Holdem, but can be done in all the branches of poker. If a player wants to straddle, they should do it before the game starts or before any player looks at their cards. Poker players in Mississippi certainly play online, but online poker is neither legal nor regulated in the state and, thus, playing is a tad risky. The Mississippi Straddle, unlike a normal real money poker straddle which must be placed under the gun, allows poker gambling players to straddle from any position, including the button. Blind Play – Traditional Straddle and Mississippi Straddle Bets November 9, 2014 / 9027 views If you’ve ever played a Texas Holdem cash game, you probably know that there are several variations.
A straddle is in the same category as big blinds and antes. It’s money that goes into the pot before any cards have been dealt. Traditionally in a Texas Hold’Em poker game, there is a big blind, a small bind and sometimes there are antes. A straddle is an amount that will be twice the size of the game’s big blind.
There are two main types of straddles in poker, classic and Mississippi.
Classic Straddle
A classic straddle is where the first player to act preflop will post the straddle. The player that acts first preflop is the UTG position, directly on the big blind’s left. They will place an amount 2 times the size of the big blind.
In some games, re-straddling is allowed and encouraged. Re-straddling is where the person directly on the straddle’s left has the option to place an amount that is two times the original straddle. This has the potential to go around the whole table.
If you’re confused, our article on position at the poker table might help.
Texas Holdem Mississippi Straddle Rules
Mississippi Straddle
A Mississippi Straddle is where most positions will have the option to straddle. The button has first dibs. If the button opts in to straddle, preflop action will start on the small blind and continue around clockwise until the action reaches back to the button.
The button will always have first priority to post a Mississippi straddle. However, if the button chooses not to straddle, the player to the button’s right, the cut-off position, will have second priority.
Texas Holdem Mississippi Straddle Position
If both the button and but-off position opt-out of straddling, then the player to the cut-off’s right, called the hijack, will then have next priority. This will go around counter clockwise until it reaches the big blind. The big and small blind are not allowed to straddle.
When should you place a straddle?
There are some good opportunities to place a straddle in certain poker game scenarios. In some games you may want to take players out of their comfort zone by introducing a straddle.
However, posting the straddle and being in the straddle position is not a profitable move in the long run. Similar to the blind positions, you cannot win from these positions.
In some games straddles are mandatory. You will have to post them every time you’re on the big blind’s left. The Asian poker apps tend to run with this format: small blind, big blind, antes and then a mandatory straddle.
Pros of Placing a Straddle
- Increasing the stakes. You are essentially doubling the amount of money on every street that all players are now playing for. Every preflop, flop, turn and river are going to have twice the amount in the pot than if there was no straddle.
- More potential for mistakes. Other players may not be familiar with straddling or playing with shallower stacks. There will now be different stack to pot ratios and some players might adjust poorly.
Cons of Placing a Straddle
- A losing move that is –EV in the long run. You cannot win from placing a straddle. You’re out of position and have posted the largest amount of dead money before seeing any cards. Players in other positions may wait for their cards and act accordingly before putting any money into the pot.
- More potential for mistakes. If you are not too familiar with straddling you might adjust or re-adjust to other player’s actions poorly. You might not be familiar with shallower or lower stack to pot ratio play.
Where you will most likely encounter straddle play?
In any live poker cash game, there is a very high likelihood that you will encounter someone attempting to straddle. This will happen in both casinos and private games. It is not always allowed in live cash games, so you will usually need to ask the dealer if this is acceptable.
In most traditional online No-Limit Hold’em cash games, there is no straddle and no antes. Just the small blind and the big blind. In most of the available poker apps including the PKC app, there will be a small blind, a big blind, a mandatory straddle and antes.
Where to play online poker with straddles?
Come play with us at PKC. There are No Limit Hold’Em cash games around the clock which all include straddles. There are stakes from the penny micros all the way up to high stakes of 50/100/200, which is $7.20/$14.40/$28.80. There’s a game for everyone, so why not come down and check out the action?
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When playing Texas Holdem, 7 cards are used, in which two are called hole cards and the other five are community cards. The game is played in four phases and the player with the best two cards by the end of the game becomes the winner. For a game of Texas Holdem to be successful, the game should be well organized, have good structure and use of quality poker supplies. When we speak about straddling in Texas Holdem, we mean doubling the big blind into the pot before the start of the game. Straddling is common in Omaha and Texas Holdem, but can be done in all the branches of poker. If a player wants to straddle, they should do it before the game starts or before any player looks at their cards.
The purpose for straddling in a Texas Holdem game varies depending on the player. Reasons for straddling include:
It gives you the right to be the last to act during the game, like you were the one on the big blind even if you were not. This can be advantageous to the player who straddles especially if the doubling of the big blind does not favour the other players. If the straddle does not favour any of the players including the one who straddles, the player that straddles is likely to win the game because they are the last to act. The player may straddle with this intention in mind, but may not be in their favour at times because the straddle may favour another player.
Straddling makes the game more lively because the option of calling is taken away from most players. When a player’s chance comes, they have only two options left, which are to fold or raise. In this kind of tension, the game becomes more interesting because the players will make unexpected moves to ensure they remain in the game. However, if the player who straddles does it blindly, then it may end up becoming a disadvantage.
In conclusion, the reasons why some players straddle when playing Texas Holdem are clear. Straddling makes the game interesting, and the player has a better opportunity of winning if they play their cards right. However, straddling can be a disadvantage to the player who straddles and may favour the opponent players. It all depends on the cards the opponents have. At this point, a players luck is usually at work.