Author Topic: Straddle in Pot Limit  (Read 10345 times)

Kendalizor

  • TDA Member & Active Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 14
Straddle in Pot Limit
« on: September 06, 2011, 02:28:45 PM »
 ??? I'm having trouble understanding a precise amount the pot is with a straddle and if I can get a better understanding of it I can forward my answer to hundreds of others. To my understanding the pot for a $1/$2 blind would be $7 under the gun but in my local cash game we round to 4(X) the big blind instead of 3.5(X). With that making it $8 max we round up to $10 because the action on the game is bigger for a $1/$2 game. So normally we have a $5 or $10 straddle in the $1/$2 game which is allowed anywhere except the blinds themselves. With the straddle being treated like a third blind normally under the gun, max is $20 for a $5 dollar straddle and $40 for a $10 straddle. Which brings me to these concerns that I would think generally apply to any Pot limit game with such a straddle:

1. If a $5 straddle is on the button on a $1/$2 game and the blinds fold leaving $3 folded and only the straddle left what would the pot be? (would the blinds count as $5 each folded or just one $5)

2. Same $1/$2 game with a $5 straddle on the button. If the blinds are the only thing calling and it is folded to the button, how much can the button make it? 20 perhaps or 15?

3. If a small blind folds is it generally counted as a full straddle amount even if it is a dollar?

These are my grey areas for me that I deal with three times a week usually $1/$2, $2/$5, and occasionally $5/$10 Pot Limit. I would love some opinions and maybe I can get some consistency in the room by posting up what I conclude and forward it to the manager. There is no rulebook or website detail for straddles that I can find, but I'm looking to make more detail for them because they are popular here for creating action. Please please help.



Nick C

  • TDA Member & Veteran Poster
  • ***
  • Posts: 3352
    • http://www.pokertda.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=557;sa=forumProfile
Re: Straddle in Pot Limit
« Reply #1 on: September 06, 2011, 04:48:32 PM »
kendalizor,

 I'm a little confused with your opening question. The 3.5 or 4.0 times, that you are refering to usually pertains to pot limit and not straddles. There is another thread that might help but I'm not familiar with straddles that are "out of position."
http://www.pokertda.com/forum/index.php?topic=135.0


Kendalizor

  • TDA Member & Active Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 14
Re: Straddle in Pot Limit
« Reply #2 on: September 06, 2011, 08:21:03 PM »
Nick I meant pot limit with straddles. Though that thread was helpful with another query I had it didn't relate with this one. With a straddle not being a raise but more like a third blind even in correct position under the gun we have been making the pot 4 times the straddle if that helps. Question 1. and 2. are posted because of the button being the straddle though and I can't find hardly anything other than some sites posting that in some casinos it happens, but I'm stuck on how the pot is calculated and I see it constantly.

Nick C

  • TDA Member & Veteran Poster
  • ***
  • Posts: 3352
    • http://www.pokertda.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=557;sa=forumProfile
Re: Straddle in Pot Limit
« Reply #3 on: September 07, 2011, 06:56:37 AM »
Kendalizor,

 I suggest that you get together with your regular players and come up with something that they can agree on. That's what I would do. They are the ones that are going to play the game, if they don't like what you establish as house rules, they won't play. You can't find rules for your game, because there are none. Keep it as simple as possible, if 4 times the straddle, round it off Who knows?... you might be setting the standard that could be followed by other cardrooms

 Your example: Blinds 1 and 2 with straddle to 4 only requires 4 to call but could be raised to 22...1 SB + 2 BB + 4 Straddle. Max raise by first player to act after the straddle would be to a total of 22, The 4 to call + the 11 total pot, requires the player to put 15 into the pot. I really don't know why anyone plays the game but, if that's what they want, give it to them. In my example, you might want to round it off to 20 instead of 22. You'd better think this one out. It won't work if you're the only one that gets it.

Good Luck
« Last Edit: December 08, 2014, 05:28:42 PM by Nick C »

Stuart Murray

  • TDA Member & Veteran Poster
  • ***
  • Posts: 645
Re: Straddle in Pot Limit
« Reply #4 on: September 07, 2011, 11:00:36 AM »
Hi Kendalizor,

I will try and answer each question, in the same order in which you posted:

1) In true pot limit, you only count what's in, but it's rarely played that way, so you would presume the $5 straddle + SB + BB both at $5, as the straddle is a new forced minimum, so that means $15 in the pot before any opens = a total 'raise pot' value of $25 total, ($5 + $20 raise)

2) I would allow the button to open for $20 more ($25 total), but that's purely to increase the pot and generate more rake (again not true pot limit)

3) Pre-flop yes, in cash games you would count the SB as the full forced bet.

The general aim of your cash game rules should be to allow as much money hits the middle as possible given the gamwtype, in order to maximise rake, playing by true pot limit will impair your pots substantially, so it is always better to be pretty 'flax' in your implementation of the 'pot limit'

Regards
Stuart

Kendalizor

  • TDA Member & Active Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 14
Re: Straddle in Pot Limit
« Reply #5 on: September 08, 2011, 01:24:51 AM »
You guys have been helpful and I appreciate any more opinions on it. Know one seems to have a problem with it normally here but I am working on a lil clarification. Rake isn't much of a problem since the smaller pots usually are over $100 anyway. I'm going to post a few scenarios for some dealers and regulars and see what we come up with. I'll get back here with my results.
« Last Edit: September 08, 2011, 04:42:44 PM by Kendalizor »

Spence

  • TDA Member & Veteran Poster
  • ***
  • Posts: 355
Re: Straddle in Pot Limit
« Reply #6 on: September 08, 2011, 04:16:40 PM »
It may simplify things to change your game to a 2/2 PLO instead of 1/2. People may better understand that the SB is equal to the BB when calculating the pot. Helpful for dealers too.
2/2 UTG makes it $8 and if you'd like to round that off its easier to explain than rounding 7 to 10