Article: The UTG Live Straddle

I recently published an article via FTR

http://www.flopturnriver.com/utg-live-straddle.php

Comments appreciated!

in my local casino games, lots of ppl straddle from any positions.So I tend to 3 bet big from blinds with two OK cards especially when there are a bunch of loose callers.It works like a charm.

Fnord, you did your usual great job. Since I only play NL sporadically, I don't run into straddlers that often (some casinos don't even allow it). But my limited experience did reveal that it is really important to observe how players change their play when someone straddles. Some players will tighten up because they are betting scared money. Others will loosen up figuring the straddler has essentially raised blind. You should be watching carefully for these adjustments and adjusting your ranges for those players accordingly.

The other thing I would add is to the "should I straddle?" discussion. One other reason to straddle, or even to blind raise UTG if a straddle isn't allowed, is to loosen up a table full of nits who aren't giving you enough action. Often times, such tables will open up a bit if they see you opening out of position with any 2 cards. This can be +EV in the long run.

Good article. I play a game with quite a bit of straddling and it was relatively new to me. I am gonna reread this soon. Seemingly small mistakes in straddled pots are often magnified and I need to avoid making them.

The biggest one is adjusting for the new pot sizes and not getting yourself into spots where you're playing QTs with an SPR of 2 or putting in a lot of money with a pocket pair and not seeing a flop.