Call or Fold?

Home game. .25/.50 played more like .50/1

Everyone knows everyone very well and this hand got pretty out of control. I'm not having that good of a night and have already burnt some buy-ins in some tough spots. (17 outs on flop didnt hit on turn or river TWICE)

I'm sitting with around $40 in front of me I pick up AK off. Straddle is on. Tight-math guy UTG makes it $3.25 to go (standard raise). I'm next and decide to just flat call here mainly because of my opponent. Next folds. Next is tight in hand selection and then absolutley crazy when he enters a pot. He makes it $20 to go. This raise absolutley threw me off because I know this guy usually raises real hard with big pairs but usually not this hard. Next folds.

Now we get to the probably the best player at the table who looks down and cringes. Then says, "Usually I'm in here but now it's easy to let this go." I figured him for AJ or A10 maybe even KQ. More folds to the straddler. Straddler is sitting there and debating a call here. Finally decides to fold. UTG folds after about 2 days of thinking. Now its to me. I consider it an easy fold because this guy will usually have AA, KK, QQ, JJ in this spot and even if I do have 2 overs I figure my outs are probably gone.

Well , after un uproar after I fold all the hands got shown. UTG math guy showed 10 10...I showed my AK...big raiser showed AQ which was a great move by him because he knows we usually knows when he has a big pair and he played it like he did. The good player showed down K 10. Straddler shows 99.

We deal a dry flop and no one improves. Turns out if I can make the call there I win a nice chunk of change. But anyway I can make a call there?

sorry, but what does "straddle" mean

I would fold, but take note of his bet size for next time

-beck

A straddle is used in some cash games to promote some action.

There is a SB in, BB in, and a straddle in. The straddle is double the BB. It puts more money in the pot and usually puts more action in the game because 3 people not 2 already have money invested.

Usually it is agreed to by all players and the straddler has the option whether or not to do it.

Why would people do it? It gives them position pre-flop and if they pick up a big hand there usually getting paid off in a big way.

Note about the straddle though, that if the original straddler is re-raised he loses his option to re-raise when it is his turn. But if there is a raise and re-raise in front the straddler may raise, call or fold as he pleases.