How to handle people who want to chop and constantly nag live event?

[tippy]

Happens at every small Atlantic City tournament I have ever played. It always seems like the person screaming loudest and trying to make you feel bad is usually that guy who doesn't even have enough chips to make the Big Blind. My response is A) I didn't drive 6 hours to split and make 100 bucks, it doesn't even cover my gas. B) I really need to practice my final table/low m/shorthanded play C) keep your headphones on and pretend like you dont' know what is going on OR D) you donkeys really suck so why would I want to give you my portion of the prize pool when I can obviously pwn(if you have finally had enough).

As a separate point, pay attention to who is leading the chop talk. Those are the guys you want to go after. Obviously the money means waaaay more to them that it does to you, so you can bully them. Also, realize that they are mad at you and will be taking shots. Adjust accordingly. And most importantly, realize that they will berate you when you bust. Know this in advance and DO NOT let it affect your play. The first time I denied a chop, I found myself tightenting up to the point where I played improperly just because I didn't want to be harassed upon busting out. You just have to take the abuse if you make your stand and bust and not let it bother you or affect you play.

[goldtoes]

The $20 FO on Stars the one day had like 2000 entrants and I tried to get all of the tables to chop it up with like 110 people left. There was only 2 people that declined at all the tables. Support was pissed.

[Soulman]

[Eratosthenes]

There are a few things going on:

1) There are microstacks that are itching to chop and it would be a great deal for them. They are often the ones that are aggressively nagging and berating those who don't want to chop. Ironically, these are often the guys who won't chop when they have a stack.

2) Many live tournament players have no clue about the end game, are uncomfortable with pushbotters and don't pushbot themselves. They are happy to win a few dollars and avoid all the unpleasentness of determining a winner.

3) The casino has an incentive to end the tournament quickly since they have already made their vig and running out the tournament costs more. Plus some of the tournament players will play cash after the chop.

I am my usual polite and friendly self when I decline these chops, but I do get annoyed at the constant badgering. I get very annoyed when the TD announces the new chop dollars every time someone busts out.

Someone mentioned that you put on a big bullseye when you are the one declining to chop. I think it is the players who are desperate to chop that are makeing themselves targets. Just shove any 2 on their blinds.

OTOH, sometimes these chops are OK. Yesterday I took a 7 way chop that got me 3rd money. Only the CL had an M>5 and he had a dominant stack. The chip leader agreed to a horrible deal, but that was OK since he is a horrible player.

[Vetstadium]

Thanks guys and I would have actually made more money chopping 27 ways (final table KK<AK), but that really wasn't the point. Like someone mentioned many of the players really didn't understand the end game and were just looking for a quick buck. If I win a couple hundred really wasn't the issue was gunning for first. Thanks for the responses.

[Bonified]

Because of the nature of tournament payouts, you will usually find that quite a high proportion of the field "would have done better with the deal". That doesn't mean you "should have taken it" though, whatever people tell you when you bust out.

Now it's common for TDs to work out a "fair" deal using the proportional chip count method, the basic rule of thumb is that this is worth considering when you are chip leader or close, but just never do it when you're a short stack. Best to tell them "I know it's costing me money but I love to gamble" or something like that. No, on further thought, best just to say "No" and leave it at that.

[Todd Terry]

AC is the worst place in the world for this kind of stuff. Always happens, you're always worried that the hothead who's pressing you to chop is a button man for the Mob. I saw a sign in a casino recently, I can't remember which one, which said something like, "No deals allowed. We don't want our customers to feel pressured." At the very least, deal discussions should be outright banned until you're actually in the money, unless it's a super satellite.

[Vetstadium]

Next time I think I am going to tell the tournament director (who was very friendly/understanding there) that when I get to that point to realize what seat I am in and when people start disrupting play and clock is running to make an announcement. The announcement would be that a player who is still alive has informed me that he will not chop or even discuss a chop until final table. Hopefully that will do it. One side note this one lady was actually waiting on her hand at my table before making calls to see if people were gonna chop. This totally disrupted tournament and took away valuable time as you all know blinds are increasing very much.

[Bond18]

Soulman wins this thread.