Chop
An agreement among the remaining players in a tournament to divide the prize pool amongst themselves rather than continuing to play to a natural conclusion.
iGaming Journalist & Crypto Casino Analyst
What Is Chop?
Chops most commonly occur at a final table when only a few players remain and the difference in skill or chip stacks doesn't justify the variance of continuing to play for winner-take-all or steep payout structures. Deals can be struck using an even chop (splitting remaining money equally) or, more commonly, an ICM-based chop that accounts for each player's chip stack and current tournament equity. Most poker rooms and platforms have formal procedures for negotiating and recording chops to ensure fairness and prevent disputes.
Examples
The final three players at a tournament agree to an ICM chop, splitting the remaining prize pool based on their chip stacks with a small amount left for the eventual winner.
Two players heads-up for a title agree to an even chop of the remaining money and play the rest of the hands just for the trophy.
Strategy Tips
Understand your ICM-based equity before entering chop negotiations, so you know whether a proposed deal is fair relative to your chip stack. Consider your own risk tolerance and skill edge over remaining opponents when deciding whether to accept a chop or continue playing for a potentially larger prize. Be aware that some tournaments leave a small amount of the prize pool unchopped to preserve an incentive to keep playing for the title. Communicate clearly and get any chop agreement confirmed by tournament staff to avoid later disputes.