Chopping the blinds
 

I was reading the sticky. I have also read this before elsewhere, but why exactly is wanting to play when its been folded to the blinds considered in bad form. Some people seem to think its as bad as slow rolling?!

Just a harmless question. I will be branching out in B & M games soon, and don't want to make any bad moves.

Re: Chopping the blinds
 

It is considered bad form by some because you are slowing down the game to win (most of the time) a little pot.

Re: Chopping the blinds
 

In LA casinos, when a full table is dealt in, even if it's just down to the blinds to act, a full rake is taken. It can be an expensive game if the house rake is bigger than the $ you win in the hand. Say in a 9/18 game at Commerce (to use the higher rake I know as an example), the drop is $4 for the house and $1 jackpot, $5 total. In so many cases, the SB completes and BB checks. There is $18 in the pot, to which $5 is taken away, leaving $13. On the flop, SB bets, BB folds, and SB wins exactly $4.

When there are less players dealt in, the rake is reduced. Generally, when the table is 5-handed or less, I do not chop, but will gladly do so any other time. It's common courtesy to check with the neighbors to your immediate left and right and ask if they chop prior to playing your first hand.

Re: Chopping the blinds
 

Personally I'll chop in most raked games. Locally you are going to have $4 to $5 raked from the pot, which is quite prohibitive to your win rate. At low stakes it makes it almost worthless.

Re: Chopping the blinds
 

everyplace ive played so far(atlantic city basically), the rake isnt taken until theres a pot (of a certain amount i believe). chopping the blinds would prevent a rake from being taken.
if youre in a game that is running time pots, theres no reason to chop.
i think most people frown upon not chopping because its the friendly thing to do and most arent there to make a living.

Re: Chopping the blinds
 

Blinds are usually chopped in a situation where the house will take a rake only on hands that see the flop.

However, as long as you're consistent (i.e., chop all the time or never chop) in a session, I don't think either way is discourteous.

As for me -- If asked, I'll always chop, and will usually offer, it makes it a more congenial table. Sometimes a person will look at his/her cards before making a decision, and once, I've had someone chop once then refuse a second time (i.e., I'll only chop if I have crap). Not much you can do about that.

Re: Chopping the blinds
 

I hate chopping. I own these suckers in headsup play

Re: Chopping the blinds
 

[ QUOTE ]
I hate chopping. I own these suckers in headsup play

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree, but I'll always chop in 7handed+ games if my neighbor wants to cuz I'm nice and don't want to be seen as a biotch.

Re: Chopping the blinds
 

[ QUOTE ]
Sometimes a person will look at his/her cards before making a decision, and once, I've had someone chop once then refuse a second time (i.e., I'll only chop if I have crap). Not much you can do about that.

[/ QUOTE ]

Once a person doesn't chop for whatever reason I'll never chop with him/her again. I hate people like this. I don't care if you want to chop or not (I do because I play 4/8 in CAL and $4 comes off the table once the flop hits so we're battling over the $2 SB so it seems pointless not to chop) but your decision is for the session not each hand.

of course, at 4/8 it comes up at most twice a night so its not really a big deal.

FishNChips