PZ94: Brent Jenkins is That Guy

PZ94: Brent Jenkins is That Guy

From The Poker Zoo Podcast by Chris M. aka Persuadeo & Dean Martin

September 6, 2024 · 56 min

About this episode

Brent Jenkins discusses the social pressures surrounding the straddle in poker games and presents his arguments against it.

The straddle is a third blind added to the traditional two blind structure of hold’em and other related games. It’s not always a neutral proposition. The extra blind can help stimulate action or inhibit it, depending on the players and stack sizes. More controversially, the straddle often gets put into play with a certain amount of social pressure. For this reason, in the games I host, I allow unlimited straddling but never allow it to become mandatory – because there is always That Guy who doesn’t want to straddle, and I don’t think a good host forces people to do things. Our guest today Brent Jenkins is that guy who is tired of what he calls “stakes terrorists” prodding him into putting on the straddle. Not a big deal you say? Just say no to straddles, Nancy reminds you – you have the option. Well, as we all know, it’s not that simple. Pro-straddlers can be pushy and unpleasant. There is a social stigma that if you are against the straddle, you are somehow against a “good game.” Objecting to the straddle becomes a form of poor behavior – it is stigmatized. Brent doesn’t think it should be like this…

People in this episode

Hosts: Chris M. aka Persuadeo, Dean Martin

Guest: Brent Jenkins

Topics covered

  • straddle
  • poker
  • social pressure
  • game dynamics
  • player behavior

Keywords

  • straddle
  • poker
  • social stigma
  • game theory
  • player dynamics

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Anti-Straddle Manifesto

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