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If you reach the latter stages of a poker tournament, you can consider “chopping the pot” with your fellow players. This allows you to lock in a guaranteed payout, but there are pros and cons to chopping.
What exactly is a chop in poker? How does it work, and is it a good idea? We’ve explored the concept below, and provided some examples to help you understand a poker chop.
A Chop in Poker
A chop in poker occurs when the prize pot is split between two or more players. There are a few potential scenarios that can lead to a poker chop:
- Two or more players have equal strength hands when the showdown occurs.
- Players posting the small blind and big blind in a cash game agree to “chop the blinds” if everyone else folds preflop.
- The remaining players agree to chop the prize pot during the closing stages of a poker tournament.
There are several different ways to chop the prize pot in a tournament poker. The Independent Chip Model (ICM) is arguably the fairest method, but alternative options include the Chip Chop or an equal chop.
When Does a Chop Occur?
Here are a few situations in which a poker chop can occur:
1. Tied Hands (Split Pot at Showdown)
The pot will be chopped (split) automatically if two players have hands of equal value at the showdown. Here’s an example:
- Game: Texas Hold’em
- Board: 8♣ 9♦ 10♠ J♥ Q♣
- Player A Hand: K♠ 7♠
- Player B Hand: A♦ 7♦
The players have different hole cards, but they both use all five community cards for their best five-card hands. The result is a tie, so they split the pot equally.
2. Chopping the Blinds in a Cash Game
Let’s say you post the $1 blind on a $1/$2 No-Limit Hold’em cash game, and the player next to you posts the $2 blind. All the other players fold preflop. That means only the small and big blind remain.
You could then offer to chop with the player seated next to you. If that player agrees, you’ll both take your blinds back. The hand will be voided, and a new hand will be dealt.
This is an informal agreement, which is designed to speed up the game. It’s more common in friendly games and lower-stakes games, and this type of chop in poker isn’t allowed at some sites.
3. Tournament Chop
The remaining players in a poker tournament can agree to chop (divide) the prize money between them. The tournament will then end immediately.
This typically takes place when just a few players are still in the game. There are several ways in which the prize pot can be chopped, which we’ve discussed below.
Types of Chops
Chopping the prize pot toward the end of the poker tournament requires you to make a deal with your fellow players. These are the most common ways to split the pot:
1. ICM Chop
This method estimates each remaining player’s expected share of the prize pool. To do so, it considers the number of chips each player has, along with the tournament’s payout structure.
The player with the most chips will receive the largest share of the pot. However, it’s not linear, as chip stacks don’t guarantee a win. We’ve provided an example of how the ICM works in the “How to Calculate Chops” section below.
The ICM is used in most online tournament deals, as it’s a fair and accurate way to split the pot. However, it doesn’t consider each player’s skill, as it only focuses on probabilities.
2. Chip Chop
The Chip Chop is a simple alternative to the ICM. It divides the prize pool according to the number of chips each player has.
Here’s an example:
- The prize pool is $10,000.
- Player A has 52% of the chips, Player B has 29%, and Player C has 19%.
- Player A will get $5,200, Player B receives $2,900, and Player C gets $1,900.
This chop poker option is based on raw chip count. It’s used in some casual tournaments, but it’s less common than the ICM.
3. Equal Chop
The remaining players may simply agree to split the prize pool equally, regardless of the number of chips they hold. For example, if the prize pot is $20,000 and four players are left, they could take $5,000 each.
This is primarily used in friendly tournaments, when the players are content to end the action without quibbling over small differences.
4. Partial Chop
The remaining players may agree to chop some of the prize money, but leave a small amount to play for.
For example, let’s say there’s a $10,000 prize pool. The remaining players could agree to split $9,000 using the ICM, leaving $1,000 to play for.
How to Calculate Chops
The ICM is the most common way to chop the prize pool at the end of a tournament. Some online poker rooms also offer automated ICM deal options on final tables.
Here’s a potential scenario:
- The prize pool is $10,000. The winner gets $5,000, the runner-up receives $3,000, and third-place gets $2,000.
- Player A has 500,000 Chips, Player B has 300,000 chips, and Player C has 200,000 Chips.
The ICM calculates the percentage of the prize pot that each player “deserves,” according to the number of chips he or she has. This is how it might work:
Step 1: Estimate the Finishing Probabilities
| Player | Chance of 1st | Chance of 2nd | Chance of 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player A | 50% | 30% | 20% |
| Player B | 30% | 40% | 30% |
| Player C | 20% | 30% | 50% |
Step 2: Multiply Probabilities by Prizes
Player A:
- 0.50 × $5,000 = $2,500
- 0.30 × $3,000 = $900
- 0.20 × $2,000 = $400
- Total = $3,800
Player B:
- 0.30 × $5,000 = $1,500
- 0.40 × $3,000 = $1,200
- 0.30 × $2,000 = $600
- Total = $3,300
Player C:
- 0.20 × $5,000 = $1,000
- 0.30 × $3,000 = $900
- 0.50 × $2,000 = $1,000
- Total = $2,900
In this example, Player A receives $3,800, while Player B takes home $3,300, and Player C receives $2,900. This is widely regarded as a fairer way to chop the pot, as opposed to a crude Chip Chop.
To Chop or Not to Chop?
A poker chop refers to a situation in which two or more players split the prize pot. Chops are automatic if you have an equal strength hand to your opponent during a cash game showdown, but tournament chops require deal making.
If you agree to split the pot with your fellow players, you’ll take home a guaranteed share of the prize pool. However, you may earn a larger prize if you opt against chopping, so it’s important to consider the skill of your rivals, along with issues like fatigue.
If you’d like to take part in poker tournaments or cash games online, visit one of the best poker sites and get started today.
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