Poker Players Are Strange III

Once again I bring you another story of strange things poker players do. This weeks article has to do with chopping.

Chopping is when two players decide not to play a hand but to split the pot. It usually occurs when no one enters a pot and only the two blinds are in. They decide not to play and take their blind posts back. The reason for this is two fold. Most players are scared (or don’t have the skill) to play heads-up and secondly, the rake in the game is so high that if the two players don’t bet, the casino takes most of the pot.

It also is becoming more common to see a third player enter the pot and then they chop. Players are no longer willing to play three handed in smaller limit games. I don’t understand this. If you only wanted to get your money back, why come into the pot in the first place?

I’ve tried objecting to players chopping and was told the blinds can chop, but if a player enters, I can object to them chopping.

When a player enters the pot, it changes the whole game and it is not fair to the other players if those players now chop. For example, suppose I’m in last position with K-4. In any other position that is a bad hand. However, if no one else enters the pot it is a great hand for taking the blinds. Chances are, my hand is better than the blinds.

Now someone in an early position enters the pot, my hand doesn’t look so good anymore so I fold and then the three players decide to chop? The player that entered cost me the blinds and now he wants out with his money back? I object.

• Poker Players Are Strange
• Poker Players Are Strange II