Tournament Chops

[pokerxanadu]

I'd like to see the TDA set some standards for player chops at tournaments.  I don't think the TDA should formulate any required methods of chops, but there can be some official suggested methods (more than one) that will give guidance to poker room managers and TDs.  Currently, most rooms leave it up to the players to make any proposals amongst themselves, which is often difficult for them to accomplish in the midst of final table play.  I rather like this method myself (used in L.A.):

First, the current bottom payout is multiplied by the number of remaining players and subtracted from the total prize pool. Each of the remaining players is awarded this base amount. Then, the remaining prize pool is dividing by the total value of the chips in play, to give a dollar value to each chip. Each player is awarded their value equity in the remaining prize pool according to the amount of chips they have. When a chop is proposed, the TD stops the clock and figures it all out (which could be accomplished in five minutes with a simple computer program or spreadsheet - here is a spreadsheet I wrote for it). Then it is up to the players to see what their payouts are and the chop is done if everyone agrees.

[Georg]

Most of the chops i my tournaments are the way you described, or it is chopped evenly regardless of chip stack. There are times when players agree to something else but it is rare. What see almost every day, is that players agree to a certain amount for the bubble boy (thus eliminating this phase of play  ).

I blieve that these are the 2 most common ways to chop. Everything else depens on the situation, chip counts, player strength and a lot of other stuff. I have seen chops that were to the disadvantage of players but that was only my opinion (like on player having 75% of total chips in play and agreeing to an even 3-way split). If the player is happy with the deal who am I to argue with him? Maybe he is tired and just wants to end it.

I do not see what difference it would make if we had some officially suggested method of chopping.

Georg