Making Deals
Making deals is something I knew nothing about, when I first started playing Texas Holdem online but something that I recommend every player be aware of. Like every other intangible you bring to the poker table you can't downplay the value of making deals. Although, not necessary all the time, sometimes it is a viable alternative, a bullet you need to have in your gun. Like many who first start playing Texas Holdem, I had a very romantic view of game. To the winner go the spoils; this is not always the case. It's more like... to the winners go the spoils... and why not.
The concept of sharing risk is not a new one. Insurance companies have been making a living off it for hundreds of years. Since this site deals predominantly with online Texas Holdem, let's talk online deals.
In many multi table Texas Holdem poker events, as well as single table Texas Holdem events, you'll notice when it comes down to the final few players, often somebody brings up the idea of making a deal and divvying up the prize pool. For this to work it has to be a unanimous decision by all remaining players, if one person is against it, then you play on. If that person is knocked out, then maybe it's time once again to bring up the possibility of a deal.
Most of the time, in Texas Hold'em, the chop will be proportionate to the number of chips you have in front of you. Simply put, if you have 40% of the chips then you'll get roughly 40% of the prize pool. Many times these deals are struck when the game is heads up. Why would somebody do this you ask? Here's why..
Lets cut the chit chat, and Just Play Texas Holdem.
If you notice when you first start playing a Texas Holdem poker tournament ( single or multi table) most of the action takes place after the flop, where there is a lot more involved then just the cards you are holding. If you're a good hold'em player, you will do well in the early stages of these events because of you're ability to outplay guys after the flop. But with the enormous expansion of online poker, come tournaments that have grown far too big for themselves, often taking half of a day to complete.
Rather then turn away paying customers, the solution has been to quicken the time between levels with ever increasing blinds that loom over you. Because we all know you don't get great cards every hand, you start to feel the pressure of having to get involved. What ends up happening is, there is less and less after the flop play and more all-in pre-flop behavior, somewhat negating any advantages you may have enjoyed early on.
Luck starts to play more heavily into the equation and you end up hoping your two pocket cards hold up in a race against your opponents starting hand.
So let's say you have been involved in a Texas Holdem tournament for 5 hours and you're down to the final 4 players and everyone has similar stacks. The total prize pool is 10000 dollars, where 4th pays 900 dollars, it might just be a smart decision to offer up a deal and walk away with 2500 dollars. Some of you might say, "heck no, I've come too far, I want all of the glory". That's fine, but if you are in control of your emotions I think entertaining the idea of a chop is not a bad idea.
Similarly, in single table Texas Holdem tournaments because of the ever increasing amount of players coming to play poker online they have quickened the structure to have games end quicker, for the sake of starting new games. It starts like a normal Texas Holdem game and ends like speed poker. I often found myself getting down to the final four and then being frustrated by losing coin flips or race hands. Unless you have a significant chip lead, making deals in texas Holdem, can be very profitable and save you a lot of keyboard punching.
In the places to play texas Holdem section, I address the differences in online Texas Holdem sites and which sites making deals is more of a viable option.
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