Once cards have been dealt, players then have a bigger pot to fight for, plus an additional player who has already committed their chips.
Often used in cash games, this week saw PokerGO include the straddle as part of their tournament structure, permitting what many players recognize as a cash game action in tournament poker.
A recent post on X by the six-time WSOP bracelet winner and PokerGO regular Jeremy Ausmus prompted a deep discussion in the poker world about straddles.
Today at @PokerGOTour they are allowing live straddles for the first time I've ever heard of.