In Poker as originally played, there was no "raise" prior to the filling of
the hands. Each player who went in simply put up the double ante, and all
further staking was suspended until the hands had been filled. But such a
comparatively slow procedure did not suit the more go-ahead players, and
the "straddle" was invented to accommodate them. This queer term is another
name for "doubling." The privilege of starting a straddle was confined to
the player to the left of the Age. Assuming that the Age had put up one
counter by way of ante, the next player, instead of putting up _two_, would
put up four, saying, "I straddle you." The next player may in like manner
"straddle the straddler," putting up _eight_ counters, and so on, up to the
"limit," which must not be overpassed. Should any player, however, omit to
exercise the right in his turn, it is thereby extinguished, and cannot be
exercised by any subsequent player.
Where it is permitted to players to raise on the {132} ante before filling
the hand, the straddle ceases to have any importance, and is not usually
recognised.