Chopping in tournaments

[madjek]

I've mentioned this in other posts, the place I play live poker tournaments is full of regulars and they love to chop. Especially if one of the regs is short stacked. So what do you guys think of chopping. They usually are willing to just chop evenly. I'd rather play but if everyone else agrees,and usually do, I have hard time saying no. Is it better value wise to just take money more often even if not the big payout I'm looking for or you think better to risk missing money but go for bigger pay? I'm probably telling them no next time, which will make me enemy no. 1.

 

[TakenUrPlay]

It is up to you. I almost always agree to a chop no matter if I am short or a big stack at our local tournaments when we get down to 5 or 6. I have been on the short stack many times and it is nice to leave with a little extra after 5 or 6 hours of play. I have watched big stacks refuse to chop many times and almost invariably lose a big pot soon after and become the short stack. Of course they start begging to chop then. Humiliating themselves. I remember these guys when I am a big stack and let them know. Up to you if you agree to chop or not.

 

[toots babos]

Do they offer the chop when you're the short stack? If not then i'd say no deal

 

[madjek]

I've been very short before and people have said no basically cause I was so short. Though I've seen them suggest and accept chop when one of the regs is really short. Personally I'd prefer to finish the tournament. I mean when else am I gonna get live practice for when I get hu in main event

 

[Spaceman]

I'm not sure if I get it right. But those are regulars that know each other and hang around together? If thats the case, better find an other casino to play cause they definately, as you already described, ripping you off however they can. Saying no when everyone agrees to chop, surely would make you a target. If I was you I'd say that I want more to chop or else I am not chopping. Its win-win for you.

I've seen some videos of Veldhuis where he is like never chopping, if you have that confidence that you will finish first maybe go for it. I don't and I usually would be happy with a chop. Now on the other hand, it definately depends on how many people are in the chop, and what the chop money is compared to the next position of yours.

 

[karl coakley]

I've been very short before and people have said no basically cause I was so short. Though I've seen them suggest and accept chop when one of the regs is really short. Personally I'd prefer to finish the tournament. I mean when else am I gonna get live practice for when I get hu in main event

That is a definite no LoL. You don't want to chop when I'm short but want me to when it benefits you????? Deal the cards.........

Also, I've NEVER chopped even with everyone. Maybe that is something regional.

The only time it really should be even is if everyone is close in chips which is rare unless you are 3 handed (no point in a deal heads up). We can chop the prize pool 40%-30%-20%-10% by chip count. If you don't like it, deal the cards.

If they are unhappy with you, this will affect their game. Emotions and poker don't go well together. I actually think this is an advantage for you.

There is no set way to make a deal at the final table. You can work out what ever you want as long as everyone agrees. I'd never agree to take the same amount of money if someone had significantly less chips as me. Its just not going to happen. Don't agree to a deal you don't like.

I wouldn't have a problem telling them that "I'm not going to chop even". If you are 5 handed and the prize pool is 500.00 I'll take 140.00 and they can chop the rest between themselves just on principal.

 

[Pablo22]

The main thing is to not be pressured into a chop. You have the right to play out the tournament. Personally, I don't like to make a deal until we are down to three.

 

[toots babos]

I've been very short before and people have said no basically cause I was so short. Though I've seen them suggest and accept chop when one of the regs is really short. Personally I'd prefer to finish the tournament. I mean when else am I gonna get live practice for when I get hu in main event

In that case tell them to go f themselves when they want the chop, sounds like my local as well, if im the shorty on the bubble there's no chop mentioned but when one of them is the shorty they expect the chop.... I just laugh at them and keep on playing

 

[Serjo600]

Once shared money in a live tournament, but it was heads up. Online divided the money so as not to drive the dispersion.

 

[BobbyMorton]

From what you say they are making a fool of you by not chopping when you are the short stack but doing so when one of them is, your choice is find another game or have the balls to say no deal when you are the big stack..

 

[Amanda A]

I just chopped on Tuesday night when it got down to 3 players. I was the shortest stack so I was happy. It wasn't a lot of money though, and we split it so the biggest stack which was 3 times the size of our small stacks got a little more which I thought was fair. Then I went on to win and I was like oh no why did we chop? I do think having made the chop I played more aggressive and better poker with the pressure off. Have to remember to play like that next time

 

[madjek]

I just chopped on Tuesday night when it got down to 3 players. I was the shortest stack so I was happy. It wasn't a lot of money though, and we split it so the biggest stack which was 3 times the size of our small stacks got a little more which I thought was fair. Then I went on to win and I was like oh no why did we chop? I do think having made the chop I played more aggressive and better poker with the pressure off. Have to remember to play like that next time

Interesting that you continued. If we chop the tourney is over. I'd prefer a partial chop where you keep playing and winner gets what's left or something like that. I think the dealers prefer a chop and kind of help it along also. They make more on the cash tables I assume.

 

[Smokewood]

Never - unless I am too tired to continue.

 

[shadow72]

Let's say you are in a tournament and there are 7 players remaining (including yourself) and someone suggests an "even chop" of the remaining winnings. What should you do?

Well, in those cases, I like to compare my current standing in the tournament versus what place in the standings an "even chop" would compare to.

For instance - if I'm currently in 4th out of 7, and an "even chop" will pay me better than 3rd place money, I will agree to the chop.

Even if I was the top chip stack (or in 2nd place), but the stacks were fairly close for the most part, I would still take the chop, as I could be in 4th or worse with one bad hand or two.

Taking a chop is almost always going to be beneficial to your bottom line.

 

[Poker Orifice]

I've seen some videos of Veldhuis where he is like never chopping, if you have that confidence that you will finish first maybe go for it.

Typically on many final tables, especially when we're down to final four or five players, effective stacks are pretty shallow. So unless the other players are absolute droolers, your edge isn't going to be huge as anything can pretty much happen & can happen fast.
There's many variables to this sort of question though... ie if we can apply ICM pressure due to how stacks are on the table, or if players are novices and blinding down too much, not playing back etc. etc. then we probably don't want to chop. You'll often be better off chopping in many cases.

 

[Poker Orifice]

We can chop the prize pool 40%-30%-20%-10% by chip count. If you don't like it, deal the cards.

Who's taking 10%? How often would it be any higher than 4th? And how bad of shape would they need to be in where that would ever be a logical option?
Aren't you referring to making an ICM chop? Or was your 40-30-20-10 in reference to whatever percent of chips left in play each player has is what % of the prizepool they're entitled to? (just tryin' to understand what you're suggesting)

 

[karl coakley]

Who's taking 10%? How often would it be any higher than 4th? And how bad of shape would they need to be in where that would ever be a logical option?
Aren't you referring to making an ICM chop? Or was your 40-30-20-10 in reference to whatever percent of chips left in play each player has is what % of the prizepool they're entitled to? (just tryin' to understand what you're suggesting)

I was giving an example where there was 4 players left. If the prize pool was 500.00 I would never agree to a 125.00 split 4 ways (unless I was last). I was suggesting a chop by chip count where a 40% payout to 1st, 30% to 2nd, ect.. So if you had 500.00 split 4 ways who ever was leading would get 200.00, next would get 150.00, followed by 100.00 and 50.00.

 

[Vuske111]

I like to chop but i would never chop if im chip leader especially not for all even