# Live Cash Game Straddle Rules: UTG Straddle, Button Straddle, And Mississippi Straddle | Official Poker Floor Ruling

> Source: [Live Poker Straddle Rules: UTG, Button & Mississippi on Smarter.Poker](https://smarter.poker/rules/straddle-rules-utg-button-mississippi) | Official Reference: RROP Section 5 / Live Cardroom House Rules

## Direct Answer & Summary Ruling
A Straddle Is A Voluntary Blind Raise Posted Before Hole Cards Are Dealt (Typically 2x The Big Blind) That Purchases Last Action Preflop And Sets The Effective Third Blind For Minimum Raise Calculations.

## Official Casino Floor & TDA Ruling
In Live Cash Games governed By Robert's Rules Of Poker, A Standard Under-The-Gun (UTG) Straddle Is Posted By The Player Immediately Left Of The Big Blind For 2x The Big Blind Before Any Cards Are Dealt. Preflop Action Begins With UTG+1, And The Straddler Acts Last After The Big Blind. In Rooms Allowing A Button Straddle Or Mississippi Straddle (Posted From Any Seat), Action Either Starts With The Small Blind (Giving The Button Absolute Last Action) Or Starts Left Of The Straddler Depending On Posted House Procedure. A Straddle Always Counts As The Third Blind, Meaning The Minimum Preflop Open Raise Is 2x The Straddle.

## Common Live Table Scenarios & Rulings
1. **Scenario**: In A $2/$5 Cash Game, The UTG Player Posts A $10 Straddle Before The Deal.
   - **Official Ruling**: Preflop Action Begins With UTG+1. The Minimum Legal Open Raise Is Now $20 (A $10 Increment Over The $10 Third Blind), And The UTG Straddler Acts Last Preflop.
2. **Scenario**: In A Game Allowing Re-Straddles (Double Straddle), UTG Posts $10 And UTG+1 Posts $20.
   - **Official Ruling**: Preflop Action Starts At UTG+2, The Minimum Raise Is $40, And UTG+1 Has Final Preflop Option After UTG.
3. **Scenario**: Both The UTG Player And The Dealer Button Want To Post A Straddle On The Same Hand.
   - **Official Ruling**: In Most Cardrooms, The Traditional UTG Straddle Takes Priority Over A Button Straddle Unless The Room Explicitly Enforces Button Priority.

## Frequently Asked Questions
### Are Straddles Allowed In Poker Tournaments?
No. Under Official Poker TDA Rules, Voluntary Straddles And Sleeper Bets Are Prohibited In All Sanctioned Tournament Play To Preserve Blind Equity Integrity.

### How Does A Straddle Change The Effective Stack Depth Of A Cash Game?
A 2x Straddle Immediately Cuts Every Player's Effective Stack Depth In Half (Turning A 100BB Stack Into A 50-Straddle Stack) And Lowers Postflop Stack-To-Pot Ratios (SPR).

## Canonical & Raw Markdown Links
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- **Raw Markdown URL**: [https://smarter.poker/rules/straddle-rules-utg-button-mississippi.md](https://smarter.poker/rules/straddle-rules-utg-button-mississippi.md)
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