[hoterdoc]

Here is the setting: 50 seat, EXPANDED home game (no longer in a home.)
$75 + $5 (to cover food, drinks, and chair rentals)

Have recently changed to a new blind structure (starting at T$1-$2, instead of in the T1,000 range)

I realize this is really just a semantic/appearance differece, as long as everyone is on the same stack to start, and same blind schedule. The only importance of this is that the new levels (with some in-between blind levels added) may be responsible for drawing this tourney out longer than anticipated.

cutting to the chase, -

After about six hours, (they usually last no longer than 5 hours), we were down from 50 to 6 players, all in the money.
the payout schedule was:35%, 23%,17%, 12%,8%, 5%

As you can guess, EVERYONE CHOPPED - 6 WAYS!!!
Everyone got third place money, a handsome return on the $75 +$5 entry fee.

The rules state that Chopping is allowed, if all players agree. ( I just never dreamed it would be that many.)

Everyone in the side games, including myself at that point, was pretty surprised. I simply put all six envelopes on the final table, told them what 1/6th of the purse was worth, and let THEM divide it up themeslves.

A handful of lookers-on, felt they should have been made to play on, to a final two or three before chopping.

Part of me sides with this sentiment, as I spend a butt-load of time and energy organizing these things. Part of MY payoff, is watching the inherent excitement that surrounds the final 3-way, and head's up action.

Another part of me realizes:
1) It is THEIR money,
2) MY rules permit chopping, if all players agree (the INVOLVED players did)
3) It was 02:00a.m., and it ran longer than expected (probably largely my fault : new blind structure, etc.)

Thoughts and votes please,
Thanks,
doc