discuss a deal

The question is when do you do a deal? Had a couple of rough days and the family was coming in , dinner time. My opponent asks about doing a deal (ICM) , according to chips stacks. The difference was $160 between 1st and 2nd , so it's lose or gain $80 bucks depending on how u look at it. I met my opponent at the final table and he was the chip leader. If he played a hand , he didn't limp and people got out of his way. Other than that , I didn't have much of a read on him. So I took the deal. What are your thoughts? ?

I don't see a problem with it. If you feel that he is good and you don't really know much about him then why not. I would do it. There are times I feel like just playing it out.

If you've not got time, deal. If you don't think you've got an edge, deal. Otherwise, play it out. There are few other times I think dealing is profitable Don't worry about having no reads on him yet, it'll be easy to gain them when you are HU.

BTW, nice score!

I think the deal makes sense between a final two with equal stacks. If the blinds were at 5k/10/ when you got to the final table, I would assume they were somewhere around 25k/50k by the time you were HU. This means that there could be some wild pushing with both of you being at the 20bb level Stacks could shift dramatically & instantly.

The problem I see when you get HU with heavy blinds increasing is that you can't keep waiting for AA or KK. Even if you do your not a sure winner. Both players are likely playing a wider range and with increased aggression. You will most likely find yourself in a race where you are at best 60/40 favorite. Do you want to risk $160 (or $80 depending on how you look at it) on a coin flip?

You are only guaranteed the $262 for 2nd. Anything over that is extra. I understand Pascal's desire to finish first and the idea of learning about your opponent as you go. If they are weak and you have gotten a read on them during the tournament, maybe go for it. However, I have seen too much happen HU and know there are people that will be playing things like 97o strong preflop there for me to want to keep racing.

You've been racing all tournament, what difference is it heads up?

Plus there's no way blinds can 25k/50k if he posts a picture of a HU pot which is 54k...looking at the screenshot they were 12k/24k with ante of 3k which would mean they are both 40 big blinds deep.

OK...I see where there blinds were now.

You would have time to make some standard plays. It just seems that in HU it is like a sparing match with jabs back and forth and then one player gets frisky with 56s or 22 while the other holds something solid like QQ, JJ, AK. Then the board will inevitably bring an action flop that hooks both players and the junk hand will end up flushing or hitting the straight.

As Steve Miller once said, "Go on, take the money and run!"

That being said, I have only made one deal at the FT of a MTT when HU. Played it out a couple of times and have finished both 2nd and 1st. Either way making that much off a $3 investment is still excellent!!!.

Taking a deal is great if you can't stay to play out the tourney because of personal reasons.

But I wouldnt do it in a ranking tourney.....

gl, Paul

there are many reasons to take a deal. Having to rush and leave is a good one - you wont play optimally but gamble otherwise.

ICM is never a bad deal. Avoid chip chop deals unless you have the overwhelming chiplead- it'll go in your favor then.

Nice score. Good chop

i guess it depends on the situation. how do you know the guy doing the offer will pay out. Does the poker site switch it up or do have to trust the other guy to split the winnings with you?

bigjay2007 said:

i guess it depends on the situation. how do you know the guy doing the offer will pay out. Does the poker site switch it up or do have to trust the other guy to split the winnings with you?

Click to expand...

The poker site does it all.

looks like a solid chop dude. great cash and finish

Yeah , nothing major. The little one was gonna be on my lap wanting to see the avitars (asking me to change their facial expressions) wife with daggers - wreaking my mojo. It was tough couple of days on the felt so it was nice to get some BR replenished. Bigjay , final table there is a box to discuss a deal along with fold to any bet sit out next hand. It's correct site kinda takes care of it for you ,you just decide on the details , next time I'll try for a screenshot of that. Believe there are three options you can choose. All parties have to agree or you can resume play if you don't like the deal. Thanks for the comments.

Definitely would take the deal in this situation.

Generally I have no problem taking a deal and I've even done it in sng's before.
It's very profitable sometimes and you still got awarded 1st place

I like deals. Especiall when there are 6 or more left. I made a deal when the whole table agreed and won 420 instead of 280 if I lost right then and there.


I was short stack too so it was really a gift from the other players.

Lounice35 said:

I like deals. Especiall when there are 6 or more left. I made a deal when the whole table agreed and won 420 instead of 280 if I lost right then and there.


I was short stack too so it was really a gift from the other players.

Click to expand...

nah i dont really think deals are that great for more than ..~3 max probably.

6 is way to many for a deal...knock some ppl out and increase your profits.

bonflizubi said:

there are many reasons to take a deal. Having to rush and leave is a good one - you wont play optimally but gamble otherwise.

ICM is never a bad deal. Avoid chip chop deals unless you have the overwhelming chiplead- it'll go in your favor then.

Nice score. Good chop

Click to expand...

THey were HeadsUP - - ICM & CHIP CHOP = same thing once headsup.

If stacks are shallow then prob take the deal (decreases variance). If stacks are shallow & villain is folding button.... don't take the deal (in other words, if you have a significant edge > no deal, if no significant edge > take deal!)

OP slips in post he knows answer to... nice bragpost imo,

I love making deals. money in the pocket when you get to that stage unless you have a good feeling.

Made a deal last night in a HU Sng!!

I made a deal last night in a HU Sng. Blinds were getting high so to reduce variance we made a deal ( 95 cents apiece.. and played winner take all on the remaining 10cents.. I won!)

full tilt poker Tournament #214672571 $1 + $0.10 Heads Up Sit & Go NL Hold'em
Buy-In: $1.00 + $0.10
2 players
Total Prize Pool: $2.00
Start Date: Jan 26 07:28 ET

Dear DeepchapChopra,

You made a deal with money left to play for and finished the tournament in 1st place.
There has been $1.05 added to your account, $0.95 from the deal and $0.10 from the money left to play for.

Congratulations!
Thank you for participating.

think that its a good move here. u wouldnt have played ur best with ur fam and dinner time so good to take deal n make as much money as possible so yes good time for a deal

Deal when you either don't have time or you think he might be better than you or you don't have a good read on him. Play it out if you think you are better.

Only take a deal when you need to leave or its a deal where you feel you can;t beat the other guy and have a chance of gaining extra money.

when heads up and your opponent asks to deal it can be a sign that he is satisfied with a cash or doesn't feel confident with his heads up game. depending on your comfort with heads up i would decline in this situation, especially if he seemed to be a tight heads up player that you can small pot with. i would have wanted to play at least 15-20 hands with him to see if he was raising/folding the button, maybe you could have gotten a better feel for the type of player he was if you did this.