Need explanations of chopping and straddles

[Dan Abnormal]

OK IM lost on some terms

If I want to chop I have to be the SB and if no one bets I can ask the BB to Chop and no blinds are taken out of either hand and we move on to the next hand YES NO


Straddles means Im gonna be bet without looking at my cards and IM first to act after the big blind and why do I want to do this


Last time at my card room I dont know if this was a joke or not but they said DOUBLE straddles were no longer allowed

CAN YALL CLEAR ME UP

[madjek]

I'm not an expert either, but I've never heard of a blind chop. Only chopping I've ever heard of was at end of tourney when all remaining players agree to "chop" prize pool. My understanding of straddles (maybe I'm wrong) is that you basically consider it an extra blind, say ss is 5, bb is 10 straddle is 20 (double straddle 40). So, again I'm could be wrong, straddlers have same option as blinds, betting goes around and if only limpers they can then raise if they choose.

[Peteyweestro]

The only "straddling " i know of is when i mount any of the weeds and i straddle them as i teabag them,lol

[pirates831]

ok, chopping is when it is folded to the sb and the sb and bb agree to just 'chop' or take back their blinds and move on to the next hand. it's bad etiquette to not be consistent and chop every time you are in this situation (i.e., choosing to play when you have AA, etc.). just agree to chop. i've chopped AA and QQ. you can, of course, get away with never chopping. just tell the two people to your left and right that you don't want to chop, that you just want to play poker.

as for straddles, there are two that i've experienced.

1) Mississippi straddle. Usually it is done from the button, but it can be done from anywhere on the table (except the blinds). The person to the left of the straddle acts first, so if the button acts first, it's up to the SB first.

2) UTG straddle. As stated, straddle is only allowed from under the gun. Allows him/her to act last preflop.

The two places I play at regularly only allow the straddle to be double the big blind ($4 in a $1/$2 game). I've heard some allow higher amounts to be straddled. I suppose in a home game you can do whatever you want.

The advantage to allowing a straddle - as opposed to a blind raise - is that the straddler has the option of reraising if it's a limped pot when it gets to him. A blind raiser must live with his actions as possibly being final.

[Dan Abnormal]

Thanks for the explanation, but Im must be dense as Im gonna have to read this straddle stuff you wrote a few more times, cause I dont quite understand, but let me try to soak this in

[beanfacekilla]

Thanks for the explanation, but Im must be dense as Im gonna have to read this straddle stuff you wrote a few more times, cause I dont quite understand, but let me try to soak this in

The straddle is something that is done differently all over. I will try and explain it as well.

Pre flop, as the dealer is dealing cards to the players (or before he even starts dealing). Someone says "straddle". Usually this is done from the seat directly to the left of the BB. A mississippi straddle is when the dealer button straddles. It is like a bet before you have even seen your hole cards. A straddle is usually double the BB, but some cardrooms allow players to straddle for any amount they desire (this is not very common, a straddle for any amount). Then, the pre-flop action starts with the person directly to the straddler's left. The straddle is always last to act preflop. So, if someone does a Mississippi straddle on the button, the action (pre-flop) will start with the SB, then the BB, etc. The mississippi straddle is confusing to many players with no live experience. I have 3 casinos by me. Motor city does not allow the mississippi straddle (at least last time I was there they didn't), and Greektown has both straddle types allowed. But, with the mississippi straddle, the dealer button has the say Preflop. so if the person left of the BB wanted to straddle, and the dealer wants to straddle also, the dealer gets priority. I think I have explained this all in a way anyone could understand.

As for chopping, it's simple: If everyone folds except for the blinds, and you are the SB or BB, you can ask the person in the other blind position to "chop". Do it every time you have the opportunity. It is your right to play if you want, but everyone chops (almost everyone anyways). It is what I consider to be proper etiquette to chop.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot... In tourneys, chopping and straddling has never been permitted anywhere I have ever played a live tourney. Maybe these stupid charity poker donkey-stalls let tourney players do these things, but I have never seen it allowed in a tourney (live or online) that was at a casinio. Charity gigs are just a waste of time in my humble opinion. The players are all so bad it is sickening at the charity poker. And, there is no security of any kind. Take $500 off some donk, and then he could theoretically follow you to your car, beat your ass, and take it back. No thanks...

Peace.

[beanfacekilla]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention an important note about straddling. The Mississippi straddle is becoming more common, but the regular way is still more widely used (straddling in the seat next to the BB). And, it is just foolish I.M.H.O. to straddle next to the BB because you are in early position and you are making a min raise without even seeing your hole cards. The only way I think it is even acceptable to straddle (I still don't straddle anyways) is on the button (mississippi). At least you have position with the mississippi straddle (and after the flop you still have position). But regarless, it is a blind min raise. What if you look at your hole cards, and you hold 7-2o? You just wasted your money (my opinion). Straddling is for people who don't play poker, they gamble. People will often do it when they are card dead, to kick start their luck. I have seen people straddle for $4, someone else raises to $25, and they call because it is their straddle. They may even say something like "I have to call you, it's my straddle." They feel like because they straddled, they will luck out with whatever hand they got. I have seen people lose hundreds with 9-3o because they straddled, called a raise, chased a draw, and failed. Many people will not fold when they should because they straddled. So for what it's worth, if you get a monster against a straddler, make them pay you off. But if you are card dead, the best thing to do is keep folding garbage hands, instead of making a blind raise with hole cards you haven't even looked at. I.M.H.O. gamblers are the only people that straddle regularly.

This post is my opinion, take it or leave it. Peace.

[madjek]

I rarely play cash tables, almost always play s n g's or mtt's, but I don't quite understand why it's proper etiquette to chop because everyone else folded???? You are small blind and look down to see K K and because everyone folded before you, you don't play the hand? I don't get that, guess I would be a rude player if I played ring games, cause I'm not chopping just because everyone in front of me folded.

[beanfacekilla]

I rarely play cash tables, almost always play s n g's or mtt's, but I don't quite understand why it's proper etiquette to chop because everyone else folded???? You are small blind and look down to see K K and because everyone folded before you, you don't play the hand? I don't get that, guess I would be a rude player if I played ring games, cause I'm not chopping just because everyone in front of me folded.

Cash games are the only games where you can chop, so I guess it really doesn't matter for you. People won't get mad at you if you don't want to chop. It's not rude. I guess I gave the wrong impression with my post. It doesn't matter if you chop or not, but I would say 90% of the cash players chop (even with A-A or K-K). I will chop if asked, or I will play it if the other player wants to play it, but I prefer chopping. You don't lose anything, it is like the hand never happened.

I did say proper etiquette to chop in my post, but I would like to revise that:

I chop when asked. I would never get mad at someone, or think it they were rude if they did not want to chop. Unless I had a good starting hand, they won't be getting any action anyways. And furthermore, you might not want to chop with K-K, then lose $200 on the hand.

Sorry for the poor choice in words. It is not frowned upon to not chop (not by me or anyone I know anyways). I would never get upset if someone doesn't choose to chop. If I have the cards, the person might get more action than they want, not chopping... So I retract the proper etiquette remark. It is just how I roll. Only a jerk would get mad if someone didn't want to chop. Everybody does chop in ring games (live), everywhere I have ever been. Maybe one time in 20 that the hand actually gets played live, instead of chopping. The opportunity to chop isn't possible very often anyways. There is usually so much action, no one ever has a chance to chop the blinds anyways. Peace....

[Dan Abnormal]

Played some live NLHE last night and I understand now what straddling is, after this lady must of raised the BB from $2 to $5 about 6 times, Straddle and suddenly it cost more to play.

OK so is this correct now, the regular straddle is only for the UTG player, and as fas as Mississippi straddles (ONLY THE BUTTON CAN DO IT) but there was none of that but I had 2 people at my table last night who wanted to straddle which begs the question why dont they just go play at a higher limit table