The big blind has paid $5. The next player puts out $10 before the deal. When the first betting round reaches the big blind, another $5 is still needed to call, even though nobody has raised after receiving cards.
That is an invented $2/$5 cash-game example with a live straddle. The extra blind changes both the amount to match and the opening order of action. It does not move the dealer button.
One extra blind, with a named rule behind it
PokerStars Live's Cash Game Rules, rule 42, allow a straddle from the seat immediately left of the big blind. Its amount is twice the big blind, it is live, and only one is permitted per hand. Rule 41 explains the live-blind option to raise before the flop.
Under the gun, often shortened to UTG, names that seat left of the big blind. The straddle is committed before the deal, rather than chosen after looking at a promising hand. PokerStars' general rules explanation describes this optional extra blind separately from the regular blinds and antes.
For an explicit action-order rule, the 2026 WSOP Official Live Action Rules, rules 22 and 165, start action immediately left of the straddle and retain the straddler's opening-round raising option. That document covers the named cash games at Paris Las Vegas in 2026. It is a separate document from the WSOP tournament rulebook.
The walkthrough uses a single UTG straddle and that clockwise procedure. Assume seven occupied seats, sufficient chips, valid actions and no ante, all-in, second straddle or fee. These are teaching amounts, not a reported hand or an advertised game.
Follow the seats before adding the chips
Number the seats clockwise. Seat 1 has the button, seat 2 posts the $2 small blind, seat 3 posts the $5 big blind, and seat 4 posts the $10 straddle. Seats 5, 6 and 7 have posted nothing.
The opening circuit now runs through seats 5, 6, 7, 1, 2, 3 and finally 4. Here is one unraised continuation, listed in that action order. Each amount in the last column is the player's contribution to this hand so far.
| Seat and role | Action after the deal | Adds now; own total |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Calls $10 | Adds $10; total $10 |
| 6 | Folds | Adds $0; total $0 |
| 7 | Calls $10 | Adds $10; total $10 |
| 1: button | Folds | Adds $0; total $0 |
| 2: small blind | Calls the difference | Adds $8; total $10 |
| 3: big blind | Folds | Adds $0; total $5 |
| 4: UTG straddler | Checks | Adds $0; total $10 |
Before those decisions, the posted chips total $17: $2 plus $5 plus $10. The two fresh calls add $20, and the small blind's completion adds $8. There are now $45 in the pot before any deduction.
Four players remain with $10 apiece committed. The folded big blind's $5 stays in the pot, giving the same $45 by a second calculation: four times $10, plus $5. The small blind did not need another full $10; its earlier $2 already counted towards the live wager.
The straddler adds nothing to check because its $10 already matches the unraised amount. It could instead exercise its raising option. A raise earlier in the circuit would change the amount it faced; this table does not describe that branch. Our minimum-raise explainer follows a different question, including when short all-ins reopen betting.
The preflop option does not carry the button to seat 4
On the flop, ordinary Hold'em order returns to the first active player clockwise from the button. PokerStars' general rules specify that starting point for later betting rounds.
In this hand, seat 2 is still active. The order is therefore 2, 4, 5, 7. Seat 4 acts second, despite having taken the final option on the opening circuit. The folded seats are skipped. Cards have not been compared, and no winner has been selected by this accounting.
An ante is also paid before the deal. PokerStars' general explanation describes it as a required contribution by each player in games using that structure, whereas the straddle here belongs to one eligible seat and is optional. Our example has no ante. Fees are excluded too; the cash-game rake article covers deductions separately.
PokerStars Live's one-straddle, UTG rule cannot establish every room's procedure. The WSOP cash document also permits a button straddle and gives it precedence over UTG, subject to its stated restrictions. That is a different setup from the seven-seat hand above. Neither source makes an optional cash convention available in every tournament or online client.
At seat 3, the relevant number was the live $10, not the $5 already posted. At seat 4, the relevant privilege was an opening-round option, not ownership of the button. Both details are needed to read the same hand correctly.
