chopping blinds or not? opinion from headsup expert

[Jun]

I don't know the numbers for headsup play. but since i played 6max limit on internet for two years, i know for a fact that i am going to make 2-3 big bets per 100 hands which is about $1 per dealt hands in 20/40. i am seeing 1/3 flops in 6max limit so that means i am going to make $3 every played hand on overage in 20/40 limit 6max.

but i don't play headsup limit regularly and i don't have enough data for a number. so anybody who is internet headsup specialist would like to input ur numbers?

thanks

-Jun

[elena_elphie]

Another benefit to chopping is that the button (and even sometimes the cutoff) sometimes won't raise to steal your blinds if it is folded to them and they have a good hand "because you chop". Sometimes the button even asks first and will raise if you say you don't chop and fold if you say you do chop.

I went through a not chopping phase but I decided it wasn't worth it due to factors like this and the savings on the drop. I do play five handed or less and that seems pretty standard at least at the Bay 101.

[sternroolz]

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Another benefit to chopping is that the button (and even sometimes the cutoff) sometimes won't raise to steal your blinds if it is folded to them and they have a good hand "because you chop". Sometimes the button even asks first and will raise if you say you don't chop and fold if you say you do chop.

I went through a not chopping phase but I decided it wasn't worth it due to factors like this and the savings on the drop. I do play five handed or less and that seems pretty standard at least at the Bay 101.

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This is definitely true. I've only been in games where I would consider not chopping($15-30 and up, Commerce $20-40) for about six months. I used to play in Commerce $10-20 when that ran and insisted on no chopping but that was because it was a $6/hhr time charge at the time.

Bottom line is I think you are probably a slight winner even with the drop. But I don't think its worth it to not chop at $20-40. $40-80 its probably worth it to not chop, even at the risk of irritating some regulars.

There is an argument to be made that you should not chop at $20-40 so that you get used to playing heads up, but in your case it seems like you are already an expert at playing HU in the blinds.

Anyway, if I get closer to moving to $40-80 I will probably seek to play in short games to get the HU experience rather than risk irritating all the fishy regulars.

[Rottersod]

First off in LA it's a drop, not a rake. If you see a flop then it's $5 to the house on a max player table. Lets say you end up playing 20/40 at 1 or 2 HU blinds an hour and you don't chop. If you call $10 and he checks you see a flop and there is $40 in the pot and the house gets $5 so there's $35 you are playing for. If you are as good as you say you are you should be able to take down more of these pots than you lose. If you take down less you should still earn more than the $5 drop (actually $2.50 for you).

I think if you are a good player than there's nothing wrong with wanting to play and not chop and even if you aren't a good player I think you'll still make money over the long haul by playing HU the few times it happens per hour. It's a decent investment of $2.5. If you find that every time you are in the blind it is going HU then you're probably at the wrong table.

[ThinkQuick]

I'm interested in this thread because I'm hoping for a discussion on the benefits of creating 'action and stress' vs. a more easygoing mood. I have tended to agree with posters in the past that say that anything that makes your opponents think you are a serious player will make them try to play better against you.

[DGenR8]

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I think you will piss off some of the very rich regulars if you refuse to chop, the ones whom you will make most of your money against. The difference in LA from Vegas, is that there are a lot of rich people playing higher limits of poker. Chopping is far more of a cultural mentality, espcially at your limits of play.

You are correct, that its certainly +ev for you not to chop, but sometimes you just have to give up a little ev to keep the games enjoyable for the fish and have greater ev in the longrun.

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QFT. Really, folks, you gotta keep the games friendly. IME a good compromise is to only chop with 7 players or more, and to refuse to chop 6 handed or less. Most people, even the rich fish, don't seem to mind this policy.

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[amulet]

yes. but i had to get here through playing lower. therefoe, my numbers are a few years old, but i still thought they would be helpful.

[Yads]

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so i think try to be humble and friendly in the game is not the best way to keep a rich fish.

[/ QUOTE ]

You're wrong.

[mordecaibrown]

I usually chop. 10-20 is my main game.
Occasionally I play with a few that like the action or
"prefer to play". I don't mind the action but a lot of the regulars seem to get a little peeved.
I don't think it adds much stress to the game. I simply toss my 5 or 10 bucks to the guy---Next hand please.

You might cost yourself money in the wrong games doing this. Those "friendly" games you like to be a part of might not stay so friendly.

[DeathDonkey]

I also play shorthanded online and at Commerce and I don't believe I could beat the 20/40 and 40/80 rake in heads up blind battle pots over the long term, so I chop in those games. I do not chop in any time game.

-DeathDonkey