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Are chops for chumps?
To chop or not to chop? That is the question: Whether ‘tis nobler to accept splitting the prize pool between the few fortunate enough to survive a tournament or to suffer the outrageous slings and arrows of shorthanded/heads-up play.
Alright, not to get all Shakespearean on you poker players, but I was just wondering your feelings on chopping. And not to get all Miss Manners on you either, but what’s your rule of thumb on proper etiquette when it comes to the chop?
It’s a problem many players love to have, because it means you’ve made the money.
In the case of a single-table sit-and-go, I usually offer to chop the prize money once it gets to heads-up. Part of it is lack of confidence in my heads-up play, another part of it is knowing so many goofy things can happen once it’s one-on-one. If the other player rejects my offer, then it’s a duel to the end.
In the case of a multi-table, the chop offers usually start floating around once it’s down to the final table. Is it bad form to reject a chop offer when everybody else wants to do it? Generally I go with the flow, but if I have a big chip lead I don’t want to be too generous either.
How do you handle the chopping situation, and do you hold it against other players if they refuse to go along?
NICK SORTAL began playing 3-card "gut" and "Indian poker" on high school band trips, early training for his...
Comments
In a single-table tournament, I am almost always willing to chop once it gets heads-up, provided that the chop is based on chip count. Obviously you wouldn't want to chop evenly if you have a 3-1 chip lead. Generally, the blinds are pretty high at that point and a large lead can swing the other way very quickly.
Chopping also allows the casino to "turn the table over" more quickly and get a new tournament started. It can be annoying to other players to have to wait while 2 player push their chips back and forth to each other, when a chop could have allowed the next tourney to begin sooner. At the non-Indian poker rooms, where there is a closing time, it's in everyone's best interest to get as many tournaments in as possible.
You should never feel pressured to accept an unfair chop just because everyone else wants to do it. A chop should be fair to the parties involved. If you are unsure whether the deal offered is fair, the dealer, or a floor manager, should be able to assist you.
Posted by: R P | January 15, 2008 5:03 PM
I agree with RP. If it's a single table tourney, heads up and the chips are close to even, I'll chop. Heck, I've on occasion chopped 3 way, when all we were doing was trading chips back and forth.
I'd rather take the money and start a new tourney.
Posted by: KCK | January 17, 2008 9:02 AM
I've never been lucky enough to be in a chop position (yet) in a casino.
But in our home games, I'm often the mediator.
Say it's a $10, 7-person tournament, $50 for first, $20 for second. The leader has a 2-to-1 chip lead. So they suggest a chop.
Well, just paying the $50 and the $20 isn't fair to the second place person -- it's like forfeiting -- and a $35-$35 split isn't fair to the leader.
So, I say "you need a number between $35 and $50 for the leader" and frame it as buying "loss insurance."
But it still brings battles now and then, and slows down everyone else's desire to play a second tournament.
Posted by: Nick Sortal | January 17, 2008 9:39 AM