Quick facts by PokerStrategy
- A chop in poker is when the pot is divided among two or more players.
- Chops may be automatic (for example, tie hands) or by agreement (for example, chopping blinds).
- Chop rules for poker vary slightly in live versus online play, especially in money games compared to tournaments.
- Having knowledge of when and why a chop takes place can influence your game strategy and profitability.
What Is a Chop in Poker?
A poker chop is a splitting of the pot among two or more players. It can either be done automatically because players are identical in hand strength or intentionally by mutual agreement among players.
The most common types of chops are split pots (whenever two players share the same hands at showdown), chopping the blinds in cash games, and deal-making in tournaments. It’s important to remember, however, that there’s a difference between an intentional chop vs automatic chop.
In Texas Hold’em or Omaha, in which the best five-card hand is formed using five community cards, a chop arises when two individuals share the same value hands that cannot be differentiated on suit or kickers. The chips in the pot are split evenly (or nearly evenly, with one chip sometimes being the “odd chip”).
When Does a Chop Pot Happen in Poker?
There are a number of scenarios where players might need to chop a pot, either by choice or by rule design.
Tied Hands at Showdown
The most frequent poker chop happens during the showdown round when players reveal hands of equal strength.
They could include:
- Two players have the same straight, flush, or full house.
- Split high and low hands in games like Omaha Hi-Lo or Stud Hi-Lo.
- Both players make the same five-card hand using community cards.
Here, the pot is divided half and half according to poker chop rules. If the pot contains an odd chip that cannot be divided equally, the dealer divides it by house rules – usually to the nearest player to the left of the dealer or the small blind player.
Cutting the Blinds
The other usual scenario is when the blinds agree to chop in cash games. This is pre-flop when the small blind and big blind are the sole survivors of the hand, and both of these players decide to post back their bets and deal a new hand. This keeps the playing of a hand of small value from happening and increases the pace of the game. This is an on-purpose chop.
Tournament Deal Chops
At poker tournaments, when there are few players remaining, they can choose to “chop” the remaining prize pool rather than playing it out. This type of deliberate chop divides the money by chip stacks, by ICM (Independent Chip Model), or by the agreed-upon deal. These deals will typically require ratification by the tournament director.
Intentional Chops
A chop is deliberate when two or more players knowingly decide to split the pot or prize pool before they complete the hand.
They are most common in:
- Cash Games: At low stakes, blinds can be chopped to reduce variance and avoid marginal pre-flop situations. The blinds receive their bets back, and no cards are dealt.
- Tournaments: The players can choose to make a deal in the later phase of an event, i.e., when the prize pool split is top-heavy. The deal is done on a chip equity basis, with a flat pay-out split, or on terms agreed upon.
Unlike hand power-based automatic chops, well-considered chops are based on agreement. They are not allowed everywhere, and such an act may be frowned upon in some places in the context of serious games.
Poker Chop Rules and Etiquette
Poker is still an evolving game and has come a long way from its origins in the Wild West. Today, there are a number of rules that players must know before sitting down at the felt.
Live Poker Chop Rules
At live poker rooms, the house usually has poker chop rules for blinds. They usually allow blind chops at full-ring tables but not at short-handed tables or high-stakes games.
The rules usually require:
- The small and big blinds must come to an agreement regarding the chop.
- There is no development or movement before the chop.
- The dealers will ask if the players want to chop; if one of them declines, the hand proceeds.
Tournament chops, on the other hand, must be arranged by the floor or tournament director. Regulations usually require unanimous agreement by the remaining players and an agreed-upon division of the prize fund.
Online Poker Chop Rules
Online poker does not usually support chopping blinds, as the online environment discourages live agreement. Poker automatic chop in such situations – tied hands at showdown, for example – is handled by the software properly and effectively.
Certain online poker rooms offer automated dealing in tournaments, allowing end-table competitors to calculate a chop in poker using chip equity calculators and bargaining windows.
Etiquette Tips
- Always call to cut before and upon commencement of play.
- Don’t take cutting the blinds and then try to play the hand—that’s a major etiquette faux pas.
- Respect other players’ right to refuse a chop without coercing them.
Classic Chop Moments in Poker History
Check out some of the high-profile examples of when chops have occurred in big poker tournaments.
1. 2006 WSOP Main Event Final Table Deal Rumors
There was talk of an under-the-table poker chop between the final table players. Although never confirmed, it was a sign of how prevalent such deals are in high-stakes poker.
2. EPT Barcelona 2019
It was a record-breaking ICM agreement by three players at the European Poker Tour Barcelona, where they shared millions and fought for a €77,460 trophy bonus. The occurrence demonstrated how strategic tournament chops lower variance.
3. WCOOP and SCOOP Final Tables
Major online events, such as the SCOOP and WCOOP, often feature final table intentional chops, where real-time deal-making and negotiation are delivered to players through built-in software functionality. They replicate the way professionals routinely chop these days in regular poker.
Types of Chopping Deals
Poker chops can come in many various forms based on game type and format:
Blind Chops
The little and big blind get their bets back if no other player joins the pot.
Split Pot Chops
A consequence of tied hands – the pot is split equally or per tie-breaking rules.
ICM Chops
Used in tournament settings, the Independent Chip Model distributes award funds according to existing chip stacks and payout scheme.
Even Splits
Occasionally, particularly in home games or with friends, the players will choose to split the remaining prize pool evenly without regard to chip counts.
Custom Negotiated Chops
Occur in high-stakes games in which the players negotiate payments between them based on outside agreements (i.e., staking agreements or swaps).
5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Chop
- Decreased Edge: Blind chopping continuously deprives you of the opportunity to outplay weaker opponents post-flop.
- Slows Down Gameplay: Frequently pausing to ask if you can chop can sometimes disrupt the rhythm and annoy other players.
- Reputation Issues: Accepting a chop after having already rejected it, or rejecting it after having already accepted, can create table tension.
- Not Common Online: Internet players don’t chop blinds a lot, so practicing playing all positions better prepares you.
- Missing Out on Big Pot Opportunities: In a tournament, playing it out may give you a shot at life-changing stakes, particularly if you’re on a hot streak.
Understanding when a chop happens in poker and how to recognize automatic and deliberate chops can improve your game a great deal, especially in tournaments and cash games. Although poker chop rules may vary slightly from one site to another or one casino to another, the basic concept of splitting pots according to hand equity or agreement is a fundamental part of the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do poker players cut the blinds?
Players chop the blinds in cash games in order not to play marginal hands for no action. It’s an agreement among them to conserve time and reduce variance when there are only the blinds remaining.
What is cutting on a wager?
To chop a bet usually refers to splitting a pot after tying the hand values. In betting, it can also refer to refunding or nullifying a bet due to tied outcomes.
Do you turn down a chop?
Yes. Whether you chop a deal or a tournament chop, you can always decline. Chops require unanimous agreement; any player can veto the deal.
How are ties treated in internet poker?
Online poker software automatically recognizes tied hands and executes a proper poker chop based on game regulations. The pot is split, and odd chips are distributed based on the platform policy.