Chopping blinds, a case for being consistent

[Nidociv]

To each their own, chop, don't chop, but be consistent.

Here is a case wherein it seemed Karma really tried to make a point...

20/40 game on a Friday night about 7 months ago, i recall as best i can, but the relevant points are accurate.

Kind of a slow game for the most part, one extreme or the other, either its a very small pot ,a chop or the pot is capped 9 ways pre-flop, 6 ways to the river.

3 and 4 seat have chopped on prior hands.
Side note: seat 3 was trying( it seemed against his nature) to play nice, but was really being a jerk most of the time. Seat 4 is having a good time gambooling and hangin out playing poker.

I looks like there is going to be another chop between these two as its folded around to the 3 seat(SB), the 4 seat reaches to pull back his chips when the 3 seat states, "not this time man..." and makes it $40.
"really?" says the 4 seat,  he pauses to see if the guy is joking. 
He is not.
so the 4 seat makes it $60
i raise AGAIN states the 3 seat( he is a little bothered )
5,6,7,8 bets ( 3 seats is now very irritated he is being re-raised, again ,and again)

The raising continues until the 3 seat is all in for just over $400, the 4 seat( who seems somewhat amused by what just took place) still has a good 6 or $700.

Dealer burns and turns QJJ , the three seat SLAMS QQ down on the table, jumps up and yells "^&% yeah" and screams "FINALLY !".

As the dealer is burning and turning fourth street (blank), seat 4 says "sorry dude", and reveals JJ.
3 seat looks down at the jacks and says "for what? I have queens fuuu..." when it sinks in.

"*&$%^& ) ($%^, are you f'in kidding me?  I just cant get a break ! i cant win a GD hand !" then turns and storms off toward the front door screaming more profanity.

Dealer burns and turns the river (blank), kills the queens and pushes the pot.

So the poker gods had spoken, BUT...

   What IF the river had come a queen, the 3 seats hand was exposed "properly", it was face-up on the table, but the player was 2/3rd's of the way across the room headed for the door and probably cant be stopped before he is outside...

[that_pope]

Obviously chopping should be done all the time or never, and people are usually friendly about it.  If someone had been chopping with me, then opts out because of a big hand, I now have someone to not chop with who I can easily outplay heads up. 

As for your question, the QQ would have won the pot, it would have been shipped to his seat, and if the player couldn't be found before he left, it would have been bagged up and kept until he came back. (Please correct me on the details oh great admin!)

[gregski]

I usually don't like chopping as a rule, but I always feel obligated to do so when people ask, so I end up doing it anyway.

[JustinHEMI05]

I usually don't like chopping as a rule, but I always feel obligated to do so when people ask, so I end up doing it anyway.

Can I ask why? To each their own but I have always wondered why the people that don't chop... don't. I chop everything always. Mostly because aside from the unusual extreme situation like above, it turns out being a waste of time for myself and the other players at the table. And, if its a raked game, only the house wins. I have chopped AA to 72 and everything in between and will continue to do so.

Justin

[that_pope]

Not chopping is pretty rare at 8/16 and below.  As for 20/40 and above, probably about 10-20% of the people who play don't chop.  Since it isn't raked, it isn't a huge deal.  I would prefer not to chop because I know I have an advantage over almost anyone heads up, but it would make the game more serious, and have people look at me in a more serious light, which may hurt my overall profitability.  I succeed by being the fun guy who is never mean to anyone and will talk about anything BUT poker strategy at the table.  Keep them happy and in a gambling mood!

But if it gets down to 5 handed, I put my foot down, because chopping 75% of the hands just isn't fun.

[Xisiqomelir]

OP, your story is fantastic.

[AllYourChips]

Haha good story OP. 

About 3 years ago when I was playing mainly limit, still learning the game, I got taught my lesson about chopping. 

I was sitting in a 6/12 game which was playing pretty standard.  It folded around and I was in the SB, with this nice lady in the BB.  She asked if I wanted to chop and I looked down at two red aces.  I said, "No, I'll just take your $6" and raised.  She looked at me, looked at her cards, and called.  The flop came K62, all diamonds.  I bet, she raised, I called.  Turn was a blank, check, bet, call.  River another blank, check, bet, call.  She flips over K2 for two pair and takes the pot. 

Since then, I'll chop no matter what.  In fact, if I'm in a blind and we decide to chop, I don't even look at my cards.  You're pretty much just on a negative freeroll because if you look down and see AA or KK, you're gonna be pissed about having to chop.  If you never look, you can never get upset about not getting action with a big hand. 

But yeah, unless we're short handed, I'm chopping 100% now.

[Aack Thbbbt]

Since then, I'll chop no matter what.  In fact, if I'm in a blind and we decide to chop, I don't even look at my cards. You're pretty much just on a negative freeroll because if you look down and see AA or KK, you're gonna be pissed about having to chop.  If you never look, you can never get upset about not getting action with a big hand. 
But yeah, unless we're short handed, I'm chopping 100% now.

There IS no point in looking if you chop. It always cracks me up when the blinds agree to chop , then look they flash their cards at each other and say things like "i had you dominated" or "you're lucky i chop"  Of course many times they are just joking around, but sometimes they are serious, like they did the other guy a favor by chopping.

[clarkstar]

the op was almost a jackpot hand, I've heard people argue against chopping if you have a potential jackpot hand. i will pretty much always chop though, no sense in giving the house more $$.

[that_pope]

the op was almost a jackpot hand, I've heard people argue against chopping if you have a potential jackpot hand. i will pretty much always chop though, no sense in giving the house more $$.

No jackpot at 20/40 and above, no jackpot drop or rake, players pay $7 an hour, and a handful never chop, since they aren't paying per hand, but for the time.

[clarkstar]

the op was almost a jackpot hand, I've heard people argue against chopping if you have a potential jackpot hand. i will pretty much always chop though, no sense in giving the house more $$.

No jackpot at 20/40 and above, no jackpot drop or rake, players pay $7 an hour, and a handful never chop, since they aren't paying per hand, but for the time.

i see. no rake, why chop then?

[that_pope]

To be friendly, people don't like to play heads up.  The pot is gonna be smaller, and why push a small edge in a small pot instead of getting to the next hand that could be much bigger...things like that.

[gregski]

I was playing 5/150 last week during the day.  I completed my small blind with pocket 7's as a joke and the big blind checked.  On the flop I hit a seven and I over-bet into the pot to take it down.  The big blind I guess thought I was just fooling around and raised, I got him all in. 

i showed my set of sevens and he mucked...


Sometimes not chopping is great!

[Desertcat]

People can get offended by not chopping, i think pope's thoughts on it are generally correct. I prefer not chopping and so I switched to playing the blinds at the mid limit games this month, but it has already caused hurt feelings and one player has accused me of being unethical about it (chopping selectively).

One good semi-non-chopping story I witnessed at the 10-150. SB asks BB if he wants to chop, not realizing button still has a hand. "No chopping" button says, raising to $50.  SB folds. BB says, okay if that's your attitude I reraise $150. Button says reraise $150. BB reraises $150. Button instantly reraises $150. BB says, do you just want to get it all in? Button has $700 or so left and BB covers, button agrees.

Button has kings.

BB has aces.

No king comes.

[Zurc]

I'm certainly no pro, although I personally chop maybe 75-80percent of the time (mainly cause I have a crappy hand..lol).  I don't see a reason for getting excited whether one chooses to chop or not and/or being consistant with your chopping. I feel if you want to play the hand then play it as you feel. 

As for the OP story, all I can say is "that's poker" (nice story btw)