[Corkenmahopp]

$50 & $15 NL Hold 'Em Tourney (ya $15 fee sucks)
52 players, 6 spots paid (ya 6 is a bit weak)

I just eliminated the 5th place finisher, creating the following scenario;

Me-32% of chips in play
Seat 7-25%
Seat 4-23%
Seat 5-20%

Remaining prize pool=$2,300.00
156,000 chips in play and the blinds just went to 1,500 & 3,000 (only 52 BB's in play BETWEEN all four players)

Almost immediately after 5th place finisher exits and I'm raking chips, the other three players simultaneously recommend an EQUAL 4-way chop ($575 each)...The outright payouts were 1,000/600/410/290. I was kind of caught off guard so I quickly ran the numbers and agreed to do so. Here were my thoughts on the spot;

1) Huge blinds to stacks ratio. Meaning even though I felt I was the best player and had the chip lead, I didn't have a large enough lead OR enough big blinds where skill was going to play a large part. Lastly, I would've had to WIN the tourney to make more than $600.00.

Obviously, I was more than fair to agree given that I was the chip leader. However, in retrospect I wish I would've at least ACTED like "Sorry, only if we prorate, or I get $700", or something like that (hoping to get a few extra bucks) However, I think that if I took that position and wouldn't budge that the short stack would not have had the incentive to chop. The point to the notion is that I MIGHT (but doubtfull) have gotten them to go along with it, or possibly at least picked up an extra $50 or so.

Anyway...DOES THIS ALL SOUND FAIR, REASONABLE, AND DID I MAKE A CORRECT (OR AT LEAST NOT INCORRECT) DECISION TO EQUI-CHOP?

[StevenH72]

Using some rough guessing you only have ~6BB more than the Short stack, and with everyone have so few BB's left it would be a crapshoot for sure, so you are right imo to chop, although maybe an extra $60 (-$20 fro other 3) would have fair to the chip leader at the time.

[Stevo]

I guess I should say I have been lucky enough to be in a similar situation before and I almost always agree/offer a chop depending upon the circumstances. In your case I would have done it. Honestly, maybe it's a defeatist attitude, but after playing for so long (usually it's more than a few hours) I feel like I have done what I set out to do (make money) and I'm willing to cave.

I'm sure there are others out there with a killer instinct that I just don't have that will rail on me for that, but that's just how I roll. I'm mostly in it for fun and if I get down to the very end, I've had fun and know I have played well, which is what it's about, for me.

[mattjrocks]

I usually try to get everyone to chop according to chip count, but in your case $60.00 isn't that much of a difference. So I would say you did the right thing and also came out looking cool for doing so. Now if you are ever the short stack in a similar situation you have clout. Good job by the way.

[Nexttime]

I'm not greedy when it comes to chopping. Sounds like the ratio was close enough. I've been known to bring up the idea of paying an extra spot. Say, there were 40 players and they are paying 4 spots. We get down to 5 players and it's not even enough chip count for a 5 way chop but no one is short stacked; I'll mention the idea of paying 5th place their money back. Anyways, around here it seems like the same people are usually at the final table and many of the same people are the ones chopping. Funny how that works out.

[wijwij]

There are many different ways to chop. One is to assume all 4 players get at least 4th place amount of $290, then take the remaining prize money and divide it according to the chip stack percentages.

In the event you mention, that would mean:

1st = 655, 2nd = 575, 3rd = 550, 4th = 520

What you did was give $25 to third place and $55 to fourth place. When you look at what that is in relation to the amount you won, I'd say it is not that much.

You were generous to chop and would only have made an extra $80 by insisting on a pro-rated breakdown. And you were able to clinch a win of more than you might have gotten if it had played out.

[FSU88]

Another way to do it and come out is to have them toke the dealers for you (if you guys were going to) Even though you have the even chop, you save a bit on the tip.

With that structure and where everyone was, the chop seems reasonable.

[whataboutj]

The chop was definitely a safe call given the blinds/chip stacks/ payouts.

I probably would have proposed getting a little more of the money as the chip leader but considering the amounts it isn't a huge difference. I like FSU's idea of having the other players toke the dealer (assuming everyone did toke the dealer)
J

[dad604]

Originally Posted by wijwij

There are many different ways to chop. One is to assume all 4 players get at least 4th place amount of $290, then take the remaining prize money and divide it according to the chip stack percentages.

In the event you mention, that would mean:

1st = 655, 2nd = 575, 3rd = 550, 4th = 520

What you did was give $25 to third place and $55 to fourth place. When you look at what that is in relation to the amount you won, I'd say it is not that much.

You were generous to chop and would only have made an extra $80 by insisting on a pro-rated breakdown. And you were able to clinch a win of more than you might have gotten if it had played out.

Something like that would be fairest way but usually the lower chip counts get a little higher portion than stack percentage. So your share should be bit less than 655 and the others a bit higher than what is indicated but the chip count was close enough that the difference wasn't that much.

[CrazyJoeDavola]

I'd have recommended $50 away from 4th added to the chipleaders prize, there should be a little gratuity headed your way for agreeing to the chop as chipleader, usually you'll get them to your way of thinking if indeed you've been playing above the other players games. Nice job anyhow, and not a bad idea to chop when it's close to being a pushfest and even the slightest cooling of the cards can send a chipleader to the shortstack in a hurry