Because it doesn't hurt the game. Ray is one of the nicest and friendliest guys I've ever played with and I can guarantee you that he isn't making chopping decisions that are ruining the game.

In most mid/high level games no one chops period. The only people offering are players who already know they're going to take the worst of it most of the time. Your chopping decision doesn't bother them because they already know the deal.

Keep in mind that even with our 'predatory attitude' nothing really changes. No one is chopping, so when a bad player asks and is told no, is he supposed to get upset by the fact that no one at the table is chopping?

There are two times chopping actually happens. When two good players don't want to battle with no edge for blinds and when a 'respected' player asks. Respected usually means 100+ and loses 5 racks a day so you be friendly and don't wreck their day with the blinds and just settle on the best seat

Also keep in mind Dead is a gimmick/troll account. Make him post on his real one if you want to take anything he says seriously

That is a good point comparing it to "predatory" seat changing. I was kind of offended by this situation, but I have never been offended by a seat change, which I find totally legitimate regardless of the reason behind it.

One of the reasons I chop is because that is what the recreational players like to do, and many times I have seen a rec get upset about someone not chopping with them. I can only remember once seeing anyone getting noticeably upset by a seat change.

Everyone always brings up the sb angle but no one ever mentions the sexier version when the BB does it after the sb has folded.

This isn't a mod/high problem, just a mid one. In high stakes limit everyone understands chopping is a gentlemans agreement that can be ended at any time. Usually you can only end it on an angle once because high stakes communities are tight nit.

I agree and it's something I planned on commenting on earlier. There's a very small set of games where this is even a possibility. And if this happened at a B time game, it's even more hilarious as no one should be chopping anyway.

And if the person on your left is a rec who's getting tortured by a non-chopping expert?

Is it still bad for the game of he ends his chopping agreement with the player on his right?

it hurts the game when rec players go broke faster because they are losing way more in the blinds than they deserve to be

No, they're losing exactly how much they should be. If you can't play your blinds then move down. Your gimmick has grown just as stale as the original

Phase 1: I always chop.
Phase 2: It's a promo day sir, so when I call in the SB, I'll check dark in a friendly manner.
Phase 3: Idiot on my left doesn't chop so I don't chop either. I can't give up my advantage BB for disadvantaged SB.
Phase 4: To hell with it. I never chop. If they don't like it, then tough.

You're not suggesting to say, chop on Tuesday, but not on Wednesday, because the guys on the left and right are different. Or stop chopping when there's an unfavourable seat change. Because, I don't think that'd actually be in one's best interest, because a perceived inconsistency is not really good for your reputation, the guy on your left might retaliate and start playing harder poker, etc.

The only difference between a Dead..Money post and a LoL post is that DM knows he's trolling

Somehow I doubt I'm the only one who thinks that chopping against some opponents and not others has its own set of negatives, and those negatives may outweigh the positives of immediate EV. This whole idea of, "I'm chopping with you, but not with you." is very strange to me.

+1. It can't be all that great for the ecosystem to chop with players with equal or superior skill, and not chop with 'fish'. It's tapping the tank, imo.

I don't think it's cheating (though it is a double-cross) or that the casino would back you up. It's not a house rule, or an established rule. At best it is a verbal contract between two person, but I don't see it as a binding one. It is generally understood that you can act on your blind whenever you wish, and it's more of an understanding than a verbal contract.

I don't see how you're trolling though as ZOMG asserts. It's almost as though ZOMG thinks he's some kind of white knight, but really he's just making sure there's no room for disagreements or discussion.

It's not that hard to figure out if you've ever played. No one who is good offers to chop. Like ever. And it's even tougher to find a good player willing to chop getting onlyvthe bad side.

how often does a good player join a game and ask to chop? Never. So what exactly is going to tap the tank? You telling the rec 'sorry, but no I don't chop' and him seeing no one else chopping? That must be really infuriating for him

Or I'm just shocked that he could think the casino would 100% back up him taking his big bet back

What I have been saying is that chopping with some players, and not others is tapping the tank. You should slow down, take a deep breath, and read more accurately.

How often are you playing in games so serious that nobody chops but so slow that it folds to the blinds enough for a rec to quickly gather those data points? Why are you playing those games?

You're being absolutely ridiculous accusing everyone and his brother of trolling for stating widely held and uncontroversial opinions. It's ****ing weird.

He plays in nosebleed limit games. What he says is probably true for his games. But not for the downlimit games.

He's right though that there's at best a 10% chance of a floor allowing him to take his BB back because of a previous chop agreement, unless he showed his cards as a result or some such.

some casinos will make a person honor a chop. thats good for the game and stops a fight.

some say its an agreement outside the casinos rules so you are on your own.

I have worked in rooms where they had a rule that if you chop once you always chop. Its a pretty bad rule though because I have never seen the rule address the reasons why should be able to not chop (game gets shorthanded, opponents change etc...).

In such a room the player would be allowed to take back his blind f his opponent tried to not chop after previous chopping.

Quickly gather those data points? You mean notice that other people are chopping? It's not exactly rocket science.

And to be clear I didn't accuse Dead of being a troll/gimmick. He is one. That's why he is name has two periods. I said it so everyone would know it up front.

And Rob and I have play in the same poker room for 5+ years and posted in then same forum for 10. It simple weird for him to be bothered by this. May in other rooms or games it would be standard to it's an every day thing here.

And maybe saying Andy was trolling was a poor choice of words, but again when somebody who should know better says something like the casino will 100% allow you to take your big blind if you've been chopping, its hard to take it serious will this obviously not the case in the vast majority of rooms

And LoL is some fool on the internet who pretends to play MLH.

ZOMG you are correct at 80-160+ it doesn't matter but in places where the 20-40 games are time raked it can. it's not uncommon to be in a time game with 2-3 pros that never chop and 6-7 ok players or fish that will chop with anyone. When that's the case i don't think a selective chopping approach is good for anyone except the player using it.

also the really good players never use that strategy, they just always play even when they have the worst of it and this type of behavior is sure to go hand in hand with constant seat changing, bum hunting, racing the fish to the cage and other behavior which is generally bad for the long term health of the games.

you still have to look out for your best interests in the game as that is what it is all about if you are playing seriously. for instance leaving right after a live one goes under.

the blind may be near you and you can be sure if it was short handed and no one else is super loose others are going to quit on their blind. so by you putting in yours to make it look good you are just throwing money away. it is for the casino to look out for the long run in particular games. with today's high rakes it isnt so smart to be donating for no benefit you can discern.
i will often ask if the table agrees to another round from where we are. if they dont you can guess what is happening.