CPT5: Straddling Fifth Street


Straddling Fifth Street

See CPT5.pdf for chip distribution, blind structure, prizes, and other details.


CPT5 is fast approaching!

This one's a fairly standard T1000 tournament. The only thing that is special: Straddle bets are not only allowed, they are encouraged!

Straddle bets are allowed in many casinos (see Robert's Rules for more information; search document for "straddle" and find multiple entries). However, you may not be familiar with them, as they are quite rare... and for good reason: It's usually to a player's disadvantage to post a straddle bet (and blinds in general). However, if the blinds are very small compared to a players stack, or the table is playing particularly tight, a straddle bet could be to a player's advantage.

Here's how it works: The small and big blinds are posted as usual. The player who is first-to-act, or "under the gun" (UTG), has the option of (blindly) posting a bet equal to twice the big blind before. This is done by verbally declaring a straddle bet (and placing one's chips appropriately into the betting area of the table) before hole cards are dealt on a given hand. For example, if the small and big blinds are $1 and $2, respectively, the player UTG can post a blind bet of $4 before the hole cards are dealt. Then the player left of UTG can call the $4 bet, fold, or raise, with a minimum raise of $4 (to $8). If no one raises (i.e. all other players only call the $4 "blind" or fold, with the small and big blinds calling with $3 and $2, respectively), the player usually UTG gets an option to check or raise. Thus, straddle betting gives the player UTG the option to be last-to-act (assuming no one raises) rather than first-to-act at the cost of posting twice the big blind before cards are dealt. After the flop, minimum bets and raises return to the big blind value ($2, in the given example).

As mentioned above, straddle bets will not only be allowed in this tournament, they are encouraged! Before cards are dealt, the dealer will remind players to post blinds (as necessary) and verbally option a straddle bet to the player UTG. Straddle bets are completely optional. If you are small stack, you are definitely not required to post a straddle bet (which could put you at a significant disadvantage). But if you are big stack, or right of a particularly tight player (not mentioning any names here), it might be to your advantage...>/p>

As usual, we'll likely play a second tournament after, so bring an extra $10 in case you might need it. As always, all tournaments count toward your stats in the league rankings. This shouldn't pressure those who opt out, since the rankings are primarily based on AVERAGE tournament points.

Hope to see you at CPT5. Good luck, and may your aces hold up to the river!

Eights are WILD!

No, not in the poker game... but I just wanted to remind you that if we get exactly 8 or 16 players showing up to CPT5, it'll be superseded by "CPT - Heads Up"!

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Site updated September 5, 2006.
Copyright © 2006 Jeffrey Dunford.  All rights reserved.