Tournament Deals

Hey, I was wondering how everyone felt on tournament prize money poker deals before the tournament is over... I personally am against it and think that players should have to play the entire tournament with no deals especially in big tournaments such as the wsop, EPT, and other big events even though there is no possible way (that I know of) of stopping these deals if they are made simply because people can make them without any one knowing. What are your thoughts an feelings on this and why?

I don't see a problem with other people making deals, after all they are the ones HU at the final table or whatever situation that might induce people to make a deal. A lot of pros have to sell pieces of themselves to enter tournaments, so I would imagine that a lot of deals are made to lock in a return for their investors. It does take away from the entertainment value because it reduces the risk of a second place finish for both parties, but like you said there is no way to entirely stop deals from being made. In the end, I don't really care, because it's their money and their game and if they want to make a deal there shouldn't be someone else leaning over the table and wagging his finger to stop it.

I agree, there money there game. Let them Quit... Thats what i call it. I would not like such a deal. Win or lose for me.

Well, there is one more reason for deals. At final table, those players have already played for long time and are looking forward some rest.
Without deal, you can play many hours.
With a deal, you usually keep some small price money, and everyone goes blind all-in for rest of game.

I usually dont like to make deals i play to win even if the other person is my friend,

When effective stacks are shallow it's essentially a gamble. I see nothing wrong with reducing variance by agreeing to a deal (or at least having the option to make one).

I am fairly certain that if you asked around (took a survey of online tournament players for example) you would find the majority prefer to have the option to make a deal on final tables. I'm surprised sites like Carbon & iPoker don't have the option available (but then again they're always years behind on upgrading software so it's probably just a matter of time).

There are often other considerations as well; such as taxes.

Tax laws and current tax situations of individual players/tax payers can often make a deal a +EV scenario. In American tax law a poker player can only claim loses and expenses equal to his/her wins. This is in stark contrast to the rules for what tax law would consider a legitimate business; particularly in the first few years of said business where losses are expected to be greater than income. Even in the case where you are able to offset all wins with loses and expenses you run the risk of the American tax system calling your poker business a “hobby”; and if that happens you are truly f&^*ed.

I guess as an American I have to worry about such things Land of the free!

I dont mind the deals but I dont think its for the rest. Its basically for the variance when you have such big jumps in prize money. I hate when there's a chop at a final table and the play stops. I still think you should play til the end of the tournament - bascially how pokerstars does it with ev1 getting their share and then some $ to whoever gets 1st.

Which is best ICM or chip chop if chips spread evenly
i.e. 1st chips 10000 2nd 8000 3rd 6000 4th 4000
if you are chip leader which one do you go for?
If bottom stack ?
and middle of the pack
Just wanted a rough idea depending on your position and stack what would you ask for

I'm ok with the deals...it's up to the players in question to decide to make a deal or not.
I would never accept a deal myself at the tables as I could never forgive myself if I won a tournament and realised that I only won 2/3 of the money I should have won lol.
Also, I have faith in my pokerskills and I'm a pretty good Heads-Up player, so once I get to the final table, I have a pretty good successrate of finnishing top 3...and even winning the tournament from there
So no deals for me!

Poker Orifice said:

When effective stacks are shallow it's essentially a gamble. I see nothing wrong with reducing variance by agreeing to a deal (or at least having the option to make one).

I am fairly certain that if you asked around (took a survey of online tournament players for example) you would find the majority prefer to have the option to make a deal on final tables.

Click to expand...

This. Plus when you've been grinding for 12+ hours the option to deal is such a relief.

Depends on the situation.

In a live tourney I played last weekend, with five of us left, all stacks were more or less equal. So, we left £1000 in the pot to play for and split the rest five ways. I was half-minded to refuse the deal, because I figured I was the best player left, but we had been playing for 12 hours by that time and dawn was breaking. Anyone can make a dumb mistake when you have been up all night and you are tired.

In the end, I finished 2nd after two beats during heads-up play (and that can happen to anyone too). I was happy with the money I made.

Other times, I have refused a deal where I felt it wasn`t right for me. Deal-making is an important skill, particularly for live MTT players.

rhombus said:

Which is best ICM or chip chop if chips spread evenly
i.e. 1st chips 10000 2nd 8000 3rd 6000 4th 4000
if you are chip leader which one do you go for?
If bottom stack ?
and middle of the pack
Just wanted a rough idea depending on your position and stack what would you ask for

Click to expand...

Chip chop usually favours the chip leader, and disfavours the shortstack.
ICM deals usually favours the middle stacks, and disfavours the chipleader and shortstack.

if u know how to play i think you dont going to need a deel xd