Poker Precedence

Poker Terms - Common Phrases and Acronyms. In poker, there is practically a library of poker terms that are commonly used. For the uninitiated, these terms can sound like a completely different language, when a poker player says, 'I flopped a belly buster on a rainbow board', when they are really saying that they have an inside straight draw, after the dealer dealt the first three cards, all. Grinding online MTTs just isn’t a good concept for poker players who’ve: (a) unreliable connections that are internet (b) Power sources which are impacted by environment and/or regular brown-outs (c) frequent interruptions that are non-poker can take precedence over online play (d) propensity to be disillusioned after a couple of. 3, either Donald Trump will win re-election, or Joe Biden will take over office and become the 46th president of the United States. In this two-part series, PokerNews will gaze into the. The convention is that these postfix operators have high precedence (i.e., you evaluate them before other operators unless parentheses tell you otherwise): $3x^2$ means $3 (x^2)$ not $(3x)^2$ and $2n!$ means $2(n!)$ not $(2n)!$.

OBJECTIVE: To become a winner you should make up the highest possible poker hand of five cards, using the two initially dealt cards and the five community cards.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2-10 players

NUMBER OF CARDS: 52- deck cards

RANK OF CARDS: A-K-Q-J-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2

THE DEAL: Every player is dealt two cards face down which is commonly called ‘hole cards’.

TYPE OF GAME: Casino

AUDIENCE: Adults

Introduction to Texas Hold ‘Em

No Limit Texas Hold’em. Sometimes called the cadillac of Poker, Texas Hold ‘em is a fairly easy game to learn but can take years to master.

How to Play

To begin every player gets two pocket cards. A deck of cards is placed in the middle of the table and these are known as community deck and these are the cards that the flop will be dealt from.
Once all players have been dealt their initial two cards players will be asked to place their first bid. Once all players have placed their first bid a second round of bidding occurs.
Once all players have placed their final bids, the dealer will deal the flop. The dealer will flip over the first 3 cards, known as the “flop”, from the community deck. The goal is to make the best 5 card had you can with the three cards from the community deck and the two in your hand.
Once the first three cards have been flipped over, player will have the option to bid again or fold. After all players have had a chance to bid or fold, the dealer will flip over a fourth card known as a “turn” card.
The players still remaining will have the option to once again fold or bid. Now the dealer will flip the 5th and final card over, known as the “river”card.
Once all five cards have been flipped by the dealer, players will have one last chance to raise the bid or fold. Once all bids and count bids have been made it’s time for the players to reveal their hands and determine a winner.

First Round Betting: The Pre-Flop

When playing Texas hold ‘em a round flat chip or “disk” is used to represent the position of the dealer. This disk is placed in front of the dealer to indicate their status. The person sitting to dealer left is known as the small blind and the person sitting to the left of the small blind is known as the big blind.
When betting, both blinds are required to post a bet before receiving any cards. The big blind is required to post the equivalent or higher of the bet placed by the small blind. Once both blinds have posted their bids two cards are dealt to each player and remaining players can choose to fold, call, or raise. After the end of the game the dealer button is moved to the left so that every player takes on the blind position at some point to maintain the fairness of the game.
Fold – The action of surrendering your cards to the dealer and sitting out the hand. If one folds their cards in the first round of betting, they lose no money.
Call – The action of matching the table bet, which is the most recent bet that has been placed on the table.
Raise – The action of doubling the amount of the most recent bet.
The small and the big blind have the option to fold, call, or raise before the first round of betting ends. If either of them choose to fold, they will lose the blind bet that they initially placed.

Second Round Betting: The Flop

After the first round of betting ends the dealer will proceed to deal the flop. Once the flop has been dealt, players will access the strength of their hands. Again, the player to the left of the dealer is the first to act.
Since there is no compulsory bet on the table, the first player has the option to to take the three previous options discussed, call, fold, raise, as well as the option to check. To check, a player taps his hand twice on the table, this allows the player to pass the option to make the first bet on to the player to his left. All players have the option to check until a bet has been placed on the table. Once a bet has been placed, players must choose to either fold, call, or raise.

Third & Fourth Round Betting: The Turn & The River

After the second round of betting closes, the dealer will deal the fourth card of the flop, known as the turn card. The player to dealer left has the option to check or place a bet. The player that opens the bet closes the bet, after all other players have chosen to fold, raise, or call.

Poker Hands Precedence

The dealer will then add the bets to the existing pot and deal a fifth card known as “The River”. Once this card has been dealt, the remaining players have the option to check,fold, call, or raise. Lets say all players decide to check. If that is the case it is time for all remaining players to reveal there cards and determine the winner. The player with the highest ranking hand is the winner. They receive the full pot and a new game begins.

Ties

Precedence
In the chance of a tie between hands the following tie-breakers are used:

Pairs– if two players are tied for highest pairs a “kicker” or the next highest-ranking card is used to determine the winner. You continue until one player has a higher-ranking card or both are determined to have the same exact hand, in which case the pot is split.

Two pairs– in this tie, the higher ranked pair wins, if top pairs are equal in rank you move to the next pair, then move to kickers if necessary.

Three of a kind – higher ranking card takes the pot.

Straights – the straight with the highest-ranking card wins; if both straights are the same the pot is split.

Flush – The flush with the highest-ranking card wins, if the same you move to the next card till a winner is found or hands are the same. If hands are the same split the pot.

Full house – the hand with the higher ranking three cards wins.

Four of a kind – the higher ranking set of four wins.

Poker

Straight flush – ties are broken the same as a regular straight.

Royal Flush – split the pot.

Hand Ranking

2. Pair – Two of the same the same card (9,9,6,4,7)
3. Two pair – Two pairs of the same card (K,K,9,9,J)
4. Three of a kind – Three cards of the same ( 7,7,7,10,2)
6. Flush – Five cards of the same suit
7. Full House – Three card of a kind and a pair (A,A,A,5,5)
9. Straight Flush – Five cards in order all of the same suit (4,5,6,7,8 – same suit)
10. Royal Flush – Five cards in order of the same suit 10- A (10,J,Q,K,A)
Robert Woolley

Table Of Contents

You're enjoying your first time in a real poker room.

You've played for several orbits of the button and are feeling like you're getting the hang of things.

Then, suddenly, when you're four seats left of the button, expecting to be second to act.

The player to your right puts out some chips even before picking up his cards, the dealer says, 'Straddle,' and points to you.

Apparently, everyone expects you to do something.

Your mind reels, wondering if your legs are long enough to straddle whatever it is the dealer expects you to straddle and whether it will look pornographic if you do it.

What the hell is going on here?

What do Players Think about the Straddle Bet?

PlayersReaction
Aggressive PlayersIn Favor. You get more action when the straddle bet can lead to an all-in blind bet.
Conservative PlayersAgainst. When you don't set a limit for the straddle bet in no-limit poker games, you risk turning the hands into a luck-based lottery.

What is a Straddle in Poker?

  • The straddle in poker is an extra bet that is placed before the cards are dealt.
  • The straddle bet is usually equal to 2x the big blind (BB).
  • In some particular cases that we explore in this article, the amount of this bet can be unlimited.

The 'straddle bet' is one of the most confusing subjects to try to explain to new players.

The essential concept is that the straddle is an optional blind bet (i.e., one made before the cards are dealt).

But the number of variations on that basic idea is dauntingly large and bewildering to every new player.

The straddle is an optional blind bet.

You can hit five Vegas poker rooms in a day, and find that they all have different rules for straddles.

Let's start by describing the basic elements of what we might call the 'classic' straddle in poker:

  • It occurs in 'flop' games or the versions of poker in which there are community cards used by all players to make their hands — mainly Texas hold'em and Omaha poker.
  • The option to place a straddle bet belongs to the player who would otherwise be first to act, which is the seat to the immediate left of the big blind.
  • The straddle bet, if it is to be done, must be either put out or verbally announced before the cards are dealt, or at least before the player has looked at his cards. (The former way is easier to enforce, but some casinos allow the latter.)
  • The size of the straddle bet is double the big blind, and effectively acts as a voluntary third blind, by which I mean that it sets a new 'limp-in' level. In a $1/$2 no-limit hold'em game, the straddle would be $4. Subsequent players in turn then must either call that $4, raise, or fold. In essence, for one hand the straddle transforms the game from $1/$2 no-limit to $1/$2/$4 no-limit.
  • Because the straddler put his money in without having seen his cards, he is given another chance to act after having looked at them, just as the two players in the blinds get. His options are the same as those that the big blind has when there is no straddle: check, fold, or raise, depending on what action has gone before.
  • After the flop, everything proceeds in the normal fashion; the fact that there was a preflop straddle has no further effect on how the hand is played.

All of that is not too hard to deal with.

You just think of the straddle as an optional third blind, and everything makes perfect sense.

But poker players are never content to just leave well enough alone. They're always tinkering, coming up with new variations to keep from getting bored and to try to find a new strategic edge.

The most common variant is the 'Button Straddle'

Poker

So we started seeing mutations of the basic elements listed above. And these can change the very nature of this bet and the poker straddle definition.

The Straddle Bet in No-Limit Games

In no-limit games, some people reasoned that the 'no-limit' concept should apply to all bets, including the straddle.

As a result, you now sometimes see house rules that allow the straddle to be any amount, up to and including an all-in blind bet. Action-hungry players love this.

Other more conservative players think it ruins the game, turning a contest of skill into a crapshoot when the game has a few players who take advantage of this leeway.

If you ask me, I'm delighted to have a game in which we have players routinely putting in all their chips in the dark.

That's because:

  • I am not one of them
  • I get to decide whether to call after looking at my cards.

If you think about it, this way of using the straddle bet in poker is an enormous advantage in my favour — a far larger mathematical edge than I could get in most games.

Besides, action like that doesn't tend to go on for very long.

The players doing it either burn through all the money in their pocket, or they get lucky, accumulate a huge stack, and decide to either cash-out or start playing more cautiously.

Poker Straddle: Three Scenarios to Know

There are different scenarios where you might be required to know how to deal with straddling and how to size your first bet.

  1. The Under-the-Gun (UTG) Straddle: This is the most common straddle in poker. The UTG player is required to place the straddle bet before the dealer begins to distribute the cards.
  2. The Mississippi Straddle: Any player can straddle — as long as they do it before the cards are dealt. If no one re-straddle (yes, that's possible), the player who places the straddle bet is the last one to act before the flop.
  3. The Un-Capped Straddle: This is the occasion we have seen above when we spoke about no-limit games. This type removes the 2x BB rule and lets players bet as much as they want / can afford.

The 'Button Straddle'

Things got even more confusing when poker rooms started introducing variations on who can straddle.

Very rarely, you'll find a game in which a straddle is allowed from any position.

Another common variant these days is the 'button straddle.'

The game can't have more than one straddle. The button straddle, if in play, takes precedence over the under-the-gun straddle, and the dealer pushes the latter bet back to the player before passing out the cards.

Unfortunately, giving the straddle option to the player on the button wreaks havoc on the usual order of play, if the straddler is to have the last option to raise, as he does when the straddle is from the first position.

Casinos have devised several ways of handling this anomaly:

  • In some places, the use of the button straddle option means that action starts with the under-the-gun player, proceeds clockwise as usual, but then skips the button, jumps to the two blinds, then back to the button for his move.

    Of course, if the button chooses to raise, then the action goes around the table again.

  • In other places, the button straddle rearranges the order of play from the get-go, and the small blind is the first to act, followed by the big blind, then around the table to the button.

  • Finally, you will rarely encounter a game with even more complicated rules, such as having the order of action between the button and the blinds change depending on how many raises have been made in the meantime.

    It gets horribly complicated and confusing to everyone.

    Don't worry about these obscure variants. They're usually found only in high-stakes, action-crazy games.

I'll save for another day a discussion of whether and when you might want to straddle for tactical advantage.

For now, if you're aware of the traditional procedure and the most commonly found modern variants on that classic, as explained above, you'll be in a position to avoid the confusion and frustration that new players otherwise tend to experience when first encountering the poker oddity called the straddle.

888poker Ambassador Vivian Saliba Explains the Pros and Cons of the Straddle Bet

Usually, players will straddle from under the gun or the button, although on rare occasions they can be allowed to straddle from other positions (a.k.a., a 'Mississippi straddle').

Poker hands precedence

The straddle size is commonly twice the big blind — thus, if the game is $5/$10 no-limit hold'em, the straddle bet would be $20.

The straddle bet increases the stakes of the game you are playing.

Poker Precedence

There are a few things to consider when putting in a straddle bet in poker or when playing a 'straddled' hand.

First of all, you must keep in mind that when a straddle or third blind bet is played, that will increase the stakes of the game you are currently playing.

If you are playing a $1/$2 no-limit hold'em game with effective stacks of $200, the Stack-to-Pot ratio (or SPR) before any bets are made is 66.66.

That changes if someone decides to throw the straddle bet into the mix.

If someone puts in a $4 straddle (2x the big blind), suddenly the SPR drops to 28.57. This change means you'll have to adjust your preflop ranges and strategy.

Two Key Factors to Consider:

  • If you believe you have an edge against the other players, decreasing the SPR might not be the best thing for you to do.

    It might have the effect of limiting the decision-making of short stacks, which in turn gives them fewer opportunities to make mistakes, thereby lessening your edge.

  • If most of those sitting around the table are deep-stacked, playing in a bigger game might be a good thing to do, insofar as it can increase your chances of winning bigger pots.

Another argument in favour of straddling is that doing so usually loosens up the game. This creates what could be a better dynamic for you with more action.

This is especially true if you can influence other players to do the same and straddle as well.

You shouldn't feel bad or hesitate at all to refuse to straddle if this is your wish.

When an entire table is straddling (or even most of the players), some don't even realize they are actually playing a bigger game than they should be.

A situation like this one can lead to those players experiencing more pressure and thus play less well.

The straddle bet can even cause them to tilt and make more mistakes.

Poker Hand Order Of Precedence

Even if you believe there are good reasons to straddle, keep in mind that straddling from Under the Gun (as opposed to straddling from the button or other positions) can mean putting in more money and potentially playing bigger pots from out of position.

Most players — even the most profitable ones — lose money when playing from the small and big blinds.

Voluntarily putting in that third blind from UTG thus increases your risk.

Not only you'll be playing a bigger game but very likely be playing from out of position in most post-flop situations.

The scenario is considerably different when you straddle from the button, which is the most profitable position at the table for most players.

Making the game play bigger while enjoying position post-flop can be a profitable strategy.

Remember that making smart decisions is the key to success in poker.

Always make it clear to yourself the reasoning behind your decisions with every move you make when playing poker.

That goes for decisions made in a hand, as well as the decision whether or not to straddle when given the opportunity.

Even though poker is a social game — and I highly recommend you try your best to enjoy it and also to be sociable while playing — you shouldn't feel bad or hesitate at all to refuse to straddle if this is your wish, even if everyone else is doing it.

Stay disciplined, and evaluate every situation in order to make the best choice for you.

Video: How to Use the Straddle Bet to Win More Hands

In this conversation part of the PokerSimple series, poker-lifers Tommy Angelo and Lee Jones explain how you can use the straddle bet in poker to your own advantage.

Poker Straddle F.A.Q.

Why do you straddle in poker?

The straddle bet 'buys' you the right to be the last one to act. This way, you can act as if you were on the big blind even if you are not.

Is the straddle considered to be a raise?

Poker Precedence

According to Robert's Rules of Poker by Bob Ciaffone, the straddle is a third blind, not a raise. However much the straddle is, that's the new big blind.

How much can you straddle in poker?

The standard straddle bet is equal to 2x the big blind (BB). In a $1/$2 Hold'em game, the straddle would be $4. Once the straddle bet is on the table, all the other players will need $4 to 'Call' and continue playing the hand.

Is straddling profitable in poker?

Poker Suit Precedence

Hardly so. The straddle is a blind bet, and it is never +EV to invest in your hand before you see what cards you hold.

About the Authors

Robert Woolley lives in Asheville, NC. He spent several years in Las Vegas and chronicled his life in poker on the 'Poker Grump' blog.

Primarily an online player, 888poker Ambassador Vivian 'Vivi' Saliba has recently collected numerous live cashes including making the money in both the 2017 WSOP Main Event and 2017 WSOP Europe Main Event.

Pot-limit Omaha is her favorite variant, and among her many PLO scores is an 11th place in the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed Championship at the 2017 WSOP.

Poker Hand Precedence

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Poker Order Of Precedence

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