This is my biggest fear in playing live - it comes down to a chopped pot and the dealer makes the mistake of pushing the chips towards my opponent at the end of the round.

I stare at the board.. I stare at my cards... Im looking at my opponents cards that are quickly going into the muck as the dealer sweeps the felt towards my opponent.

I am positive that it was a chopped pot. Please someone give me advice on chopped pots... when exactly is it a chopped pot.

I witnessed this mistake happen in vegas once.. it took 20 minutes for them to fix the problem with the player that was almost foaming at the mouth he was so mad... though for me... I had no clue what the heck just happened because it happened so fast ( the mucking and pushing of chips.)

I was thinking to myself.. man that ish better not happen to me. I also don't play home games because of this issue - Can see how this could cause a brawl.

Cliff Notes:
I need to understand chopped pots - do you have any links, videos, advice? Thank you!!

I'm not really sure what advice you're asking for. It's either:

1.) You don't understand "when" it is a chopped pot. It's a chopped pot when players have the same strength hand. In No-Limit Hold'em, this occurs when one player's best 5 cards is equal in strength to another player's best 5 cards. This could mean they both have the same hand, like AK where suits don't matter because neither player made a flush. Another example is that none of the remaining three players have a diamond in their hand and the board has 5 diamonds on the board. They all share the same hand, so it is a chopped pot.


or...

2.) You are only asking about how to make sure the dealer doesn't screw you out of half a pot that you rightfully deserve because he made a mistake.

The answer to that, which is also the same answer in any scenario where the pot gets pushed to the wrong player for whatever reason, is not to let go of your cards until the pot is pushed to you. My cards stay in my possession until the pot is being pushed to me. "Protect your hand" is a phrase around here that is pretty much one of the golden rules of playing live poker. I'm sure the dealer/floor/house wants everything to be fair, but it's ultimately up to you to make sure you don't get screwed. Protect your hand.


I hope I answered the question you were trying to ask.



*edit* Your fears seem to be above any beyond what the situation calls for. It's not a huge deal. Unless you're playing in a really shady place (not under a big oak tree), everyone is going to understand if you speak up about a mistake being made. Just be polite. The cards speak for themselves. You just have to make sure everyone is listening

Thank you, but I am more interested I guess as to when a "kicker" is a factor in determining if its still a chopped pot or if the cards in my hand as a kicker win me the pot -

ex:
The board at river shows quad kings... I got A/9 opponent shoves with Q/10 - I call, do I win the pot or is it a chop?

kkkka beats kkkkq so you win.

never mind I answered my own question. ^^ after typing that.
I'll try and come up with a scenario that is more tricky to determine.. if you can... thanks in advance.

It seems that a flush or a straight on the board or exactly same strength cards in hand is really the only factors in chopping a pot or am I wrong?

When your best 5 cards is the same value as your opponent's best 5 cards, it's a chopped pot. I don't think it can be made simpler.

If you want every single scenario spelled out for you, we're going to be here a while.

You have A5, opponent has 56. Board is A 3 4 6 7. You both have an equal straight: 3 4 5 6 7.

You have AT, opponent has A2. Board is QQ334. You both have two pair with an ace kicker.

I'm sure you can come up with some others. If you are really struggling with this after this thread runs it's course, I don't know if you should be gambling with real money.


Let me add a couple more:

You have A8, opponent has A7. Board is A A 8 K K. You both have the same full house, A A A K K. The 8 doesn't play and was counterfeited when the last K came out.

You have A3, opponent has A5. Board is A K K 4 4. You both have two pair, AA KK, but his 5 plays. He wins the pot. His hand is A A K K 5, your's is A A K K 4.

Best 5 cards.

this thread is a mind ****.

You're over thinking it OP. whoever has the best 5 cards. If you both have the same 5 cards, its a chop.

Ok, Ok, ok! Got it... thats why its the beginner section. It's not every session I come into a chopped pot... I mostly play online so the software does its magic. I just want to be better prepared for live sessions and not be the jackass saying its a chop when it is NOT.

I had to get my thinking cap resized. THANK YOU ReidLockhart!

Good luck, and thank you for not taking anything offensively. I'm sure most people would be a little snarkier in their responses, even in Beginner's Forum.

haha I should have found CMAR's counting video.


*cue CMAR*

One thing that can help you speed up the process of recognizing a chopped pot, is just to recognize, before the showdown, when you're only using one card and your other card isn't playing. For instance: you have A4 on a board that reads ATTJ9. You work out your best 5-card hand, and you see that your 4 is not part of it. Now figure out the weakest Ax hand that could beat your's, in other words the Ace with the weakest kicker that would actually play on this board. This becomes second nature after awhile and with practice you'll pick it up too. Try it; just as an excercise, list all the Ax hands that would beat A4 on this board.

That spoiler... yes ofcourse... Thanks.

Actully OP this is just another problem (of dozens) that live poker can have for the newbie like you. It is not a dumb question, but after several months of playing, learning, and paying attention (maybe 6 months from now) if you still have this problem then you are just a goofy fish and should stop. Good luck to you!