Concept of Chopping Blinds
 

Last night I was playing at a local charity event (Rockford Charity Games, for the locals), in which a situation arose where everyone folded around to me when I was in the small blind. Before looking at my hole cards, I offered a chop to Bob (for the sake of the story, I'm calling him Bob). Bob said "No, lets play it out," so I look at my hole cards, and muck the garbage I held, and slid the chips over to Bob (in hindsight, I think he was looking for me to get in). The next time the blinds hit us, same situation happens, I again muck the cards because I figure he doesn't want to chop, and slide the chips to him. I didn't even bother asking, because of his actions from the previous round.

As time passes, a new player sits down at the table between Bob and I. A few orbits pass after the new player sat down, and I found myself one before the button. Everyone folds to me, I fold, button folds, and it's up to Bob and the big blind. Bob goes, "You want to chop?," and big blind is more than happy to do so.

Here lies my problem.

Is this proper? I've played in a few B&M settings, and have only played a few times where anyone ever brought up a chop. As I understood the chop 'rule' is that if the table agrees to it, then it should be followed all the time, even if one of the players is holding AA. Or is the chop rule based upon the people you are sitting next to?

I didn't say anything out loud, and I mumbled something under my breath about his action, and was thinking "WTF? you're an a-hole," as I glared at him.

Should I have been mad about this, and spoke up about it? Or am I in the wrong? If I am wrong, what is the proper way to handle a chopping situation.

Re: Concept of Chopping Blinds
 

From what I understand, it's not table specific, it's player specific. If you are the type of player that chops, you should always chop, if you're not, you should never chop. That's my understanding of the etiquette.

Now, I have a related question, I was playing at the Taj in AC yesterday, second time I played live and at some point, it was folded to the button who seemed to be a regular there and she bet. Then she noticed it was just her and the blinds, so she started apoligizing to them saying she never did that and was so sorry she didn't notice only the blinds were left.

She said she shouldn't have bet so as not to take their edges. I had no clue what she meant. I mean I understand that if there's no flop there is no rake, but how is that a edge for the blinds?

On a related not, the previous day, my first time playing live, it was folded to me on the button, I raised to steal the blinds, the both folded and I didn't notice anybody getting upset, but if I understand what this regular meant, I probably pissed off a few people by doing that?

Do you agree, is stealing the blinds not worth it in a casino, is that some kind of breach of etiquette?

Thanks in advance for your feedback and sorry to the OP for kinda hijacking his thread.

Re: Concept of Chopping Blinds
 

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Before looking at my hole cards, I offered a chop to Bob (for the sake of the story, I'm calling him Bob). Bob said "No, lets play it out,"

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At this point I would say, "So you are saying that you never chop?"

If he says "No," I would say "Fine."

If he says "It depends," I would say "O.K., so you're saying that you never chop--that's cool with me."--and then watch him squirm while he begins to comprehend your glare.

Re: Concept of Chopping Blinds
 

There is nothing wrong with stealing the blinds when on the button--even though some players won't raise from the button if it's a game where the two players to his/her left are chopping blinds.

Re: Concept of Chopping Blinds
 

[ QUOTE ]
There is nothing wrong with stealing the blinds when on the button--even though some players won't raise from the button if it's a game where the two players to his/her left are chopping blinds.

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They won't raise or they won't play at all as to permit the chop? And why would they do that, does it really give anybody an edge?

Thanks!

Re: Concept of Chopping Blinds
 

I had a situation once where I was the SB and I held KK, it was folded to me and the BB asked If i wanted to chop. I said no and I raised. This really upset the BB who called me a greedy Son of A B*** and he would teach me a lesson.
He 3 bet and I capped.

To make a long story short I flopped 3 K's and he flopped 2 pair. We got into a raisng war and I dragged down a $300 pot.

About an hour later he got a seat change and the same situation came up again and I was dealt something like 94o and I asked if the BB wanted to chop, he said ok and sure enough I was glared at and called a couple of names by the other player who I was in a blind war with earlier.

I"m there to play poker and take people's money, not make friends. If I have a premium hand why would I fold? And on the other hand If i had a garbage hand and could chop why wouldn't I jump at the opportunity not to?

Re: Concept of Chopping Blinds
 

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As I understood the chop 'rule' is that if the table agrees to it, then it should be followed all the time

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it is up to you and your 'neighbors'

when i sit down, the first thing i do is tell the people next to me that i don't chop. sometimes i am the only player not chopping, but i don't give a rat's ass. i think i can outplay my opponents post-flop in the games i play. therefore, in my mind, the rake is being paid by them.

chopping is all about saving rake, but if you think you have the advantage at your table, then chopping is EV-.

Re: Concept of Chopping Blinds
 

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chopping is all about saving rake, but if you think you have the advantage at your table, then chopping is EV-.


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Hey Granny

Isn't chopping by definition EV neutral, regardless of any advantage you may have?

Re: Concept of Chopping Blinds
 

[ QUOTE ]
I didn't say anything out loud, and I mumbled something under my breath about his action, and was thinking "WTF? you're an a-hole," as I glared at him.



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at a charity event?? this seems like a complete waste of your time and energy

Re: Concept of Chopping Blinds
 

Because you make more money from a table full of happy fish, joyfully splashing around then you will ever save/earn for making moves on the blinds. If you want to be an ass, go back to the Internet, don't tap the aquarium in a tightass attempt to gain a few bets.