Straddles and re-straddles

How a straddle works

The player straight after the big blind, under the gun, puts in twice the big blind before seeing their cards. That straddle works like a third, bigger blind:

• Everyone else must call the straddle, or raise, to play the hand.
• Betting before the flop starts with the player after the straddler.
• The straddler acts last before the flop, and can raise even if everyone just calls.
• After the flop, play goes on as normal, starting left of the button.

Re-straddles

The host can allow re-straddles too. Then, after a straddle, each player in turn can put in double the one before: 4, then 8, then 16. The last straddler acts last before the flop. Poker Rooms asks each player in turn whether to re-straddle, so nobody has to be quick.

Straddling on Poker Rooms

• The host chooses in the table's settings: no straddles, under the gun only, or re-straddles too.
• When it's your turn under the gun, turn on the straddle switch in the hand before.
• Or choose under Seat to straddle every time, or never, and the table remembers.

Why straddle?

Mostly for fun: it makes pots bigger and loosens up a quiet table. Acting last is a real edge, but putting in a blind bet without looking costs chips over a night. It's a home-game favourite because it keeps the action going.