November 24, 2006, Newsletter Issue #39: Chopping
Tip of the Week
Suppose you're playing limit Texas hold em in a casino, and you're the big blind. It's folded to the small blind, who turns to you and says, “Do you chop?” Huh? Is this guy asking if you run an illegal garage where you break down stolen cars for parts? If so, the answer is yes, but it seems weird he knew that just from looking at you. In actuality, he's asking you to end the hand right now: you take back your big blind and he takes back his small blind. Most people in casinos – at least at the lower limits – will do this.
*It's up to you whether you want to or not, but it's considered very bad form, to make your decision based on the cards you're holding; always chop or never chop. The reason that most people say they do it is because the house takes a rake if there's a flop. The real reason most people do it is because they're scared to play a pot against only one other opponent. As soon as I remember to, I like to turn the players on both sides of me and say, “Oh, by the way, I don't chop.”
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