How to chop an MTT aka the Slug Thread

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This thread was renamed. Originally, an MTT chop team called the Banana Slugs was formed, but momentum was never really achieved. However, the thread has value on how to chop an MTT with other players, so I'm leaving it mostly intact.

Thanks for the interest in joining an MTT chop team. First, an FAQ.



What is the absolute, top-priority, most important rule?

There is to be 100% NO TEAM PLAY, COLLUSION, OR COOPERATION OF ANY KIND between team members. Anyone colluding or suggesting collusion will be reported by your teammates to the site.

Can anyone join?

Yes. Read the detailed rules following the FAQ for more information.

Is there a post-count rule?

No, but they must be a registered member. We urge caution for organizers dealing with unknown players. Organizers must 1) verify screen names on the poker sites, 2) verify chat, and 3) not send any funds until the unknown player has sent any they owe first. (Thanks nside)

Can anyone organize a chop tournament?

Yes.

What in the heck is a Banana Slug?

The Banana slug is any species of the pulmonate gastropod genus, Ariolimax, (literally, "Arion's slug") DUH.

Is "The Banana slug is any species of the pulmonate gastropod genus, Ariolimax, (literally, "Arion's slug")" the funniest sentence ever posted at ITH?

No, but it's in the running.

What in the heck do Banana Slugs have to do with poker?

Have you played any live poker recently? Seriously, the Banana Slug is the official mascot of the Cal-Santa Cruz sports teams, and frankly, is the best mascot ever. We simply co-opted it for our team. Plus, they're very pretty, for gastropods.

Can the organizer change the shares, restrict invites, or make any changes to the rules for their specific tournament?

Yes. These rules are intended as general guidelines, and will only be used to settle disputes. Someone organizing a tournament may set their own special rules, such as: restrcited to certain players, different share percentages, last longer bets, et cetera. If the tournament organizer bills it as a Banana Slugs tournament, these rules will apply unless the organizer states otherwise in advance.

How do I participate in a specific chop tournament?

It is best to post in the appropriate thread in the staking forum, but chatting in IRC and receiving acknowledgement from the organizer is the absolute minimum.

Must I participate in IRC chat?

This is a basic requirement. The main goal of Banana Slugs is to enjoy tournament play by chatting, discussing strategy, and encouraging others.

How is participation acknowledged?

Right at the start of the tournament, that game's organizer should put in chat a list of those who are in. You should speak up right then if you see a discrepancy.

What is the point of chopping a tournament?

Since multi-table tournaments only pay prizes to the top ten per cent (approximately), and significant prizes to only a few of those, there is a lot of variance for even the best tournament players. If you have a large group of players with relatively equal skill, sharing profits will reduce variance.

Who made you the king slug?

There is no king, or queen, for that matter. I do not lead this team, I only started it and maintain this FAQ. The team has no specific leaders. You don't need anybody's approval to participate or organize a tournament.





The requirements for being a team member are:

1) You are willing to play in the same tournament as other members, and participate in IRC chat during the tournament, discussing strategy and offering encouragement.

2) You are willing to share one-half of any profits you make on a chopped tournament (after buy-in). If you play a $10+1 tournament and win $100, the group gets 1/2 of $89. There is a bonus for wins over $1000. In that case, the group shares 30% of your win. This ONLY applies to a tournament you are participating in with the group. You have no obligation to the team beyond that single tournament. The team has no obligation to you beyond that tournament.

For simplicity, the casher(s) are considered team members when shares are re-distributed. As team members, they effectively get a share of their own win back. This is to eliminate complicated calculations in the case of multiple cashers. Although a tournament organizer could set separate rules for a specific tournament, I intended that shares after the fact will be evenly divided among all who participated in THAT tournament. If there are five runners, one cash, the profits are split five ways. Example. I cash for $222 on a $22 buy-in. My profit is $100. There were five runners and only one cash. Each of the five runners is entitled to an equal share of the $100 profit, or $20 each. As one of the five, I keep my own share of the profit, and ship $20 to each of the other four.

This may seem pointless until you consider the possibility of multiple cashers, in which case multiple winners would send the 50% to the tournament organizer, who then divides it all equally among the others.

I considered fancy-pants ways to split profits that wouldn't get the casher(s) an extra buy-in back, but if you envision a situation with multiple runners and multiple cashers, the calculations could get simply ridiculous.

The 30% rule is for the amount of the win above $1000 + buy-in. The 50% share applies for the first $1000 of profit.

For simplicity in the case of R&A tournaments, the profit margin will be calculated based on buy-in + one rebuy +one addon. Any additional rebuys are at the expense of the player, since verifying rebuys is difficult. Thanks to Bull for this suggestion.

3) You must follow rules of poker. There is to be NO TEAM PLAY. Collusion is strictly prohibited. If you find yourself at the same table as another team member, you may not discuss your play in chat while a hand is in progress. This includes mentioning your cards if you fold but your teammate is still in the hand. People who attempt to collude will be reported to support at the site in question. We must keep this strictly above board.

Let me give an example: Cript and I were at the same table in the first Slugs tournament. While both of us were in the hand, any discussion of cards or strategy is collusion. After I folded (and he was still in), he could have asked for advice on his play, but I should not have participated. For me to be involved in his hand from the same table could be perceived as collusion.

4) You must post in the game thread (or notify in chat) that you are participating in that event (or day of events) and share your username on that site.

5) Members who renege on their profit-sharing obligation will be sued, ostracized, called names, sued, beaten, sued, made fun of, sued, flamed, and nanny-nanny-boo-booed. You might receive some nasty PMs too, I can't be sure.

6) There is no skill requirement to participate. This is primarily about fun and camaraderie, and secondarily about reducing MTT variance by spreading the risk/reward among several players of roughly equal skill level. Since we will be primarily playing at low limits, the skill level factor is eliminated somewhat by the erratic play of opponents, so people that suck can still be in, for now. We may institute a rule regarding performance; it mostly depends on the mood of the crowd.

It is possible that some events involving stakes, etc. will be played by invited players only.

You may arrange invite-only events of your own at any buy-in level.

7) Any member can arrange any tournament at any time they want (for Euro-friendly times, for example). If you haven't particiapted yet, it makes no difference. If you are willing to arrange players, track payouts, arrange transfers, et cetera, you just became a tournament organizer. Simply start a new thread in the staking forum with buy-in, site, date, and time, and any special rules you want to use (last longer bets, first one out bets, non-standard sharing percentages, etc.)

For much of the month of December, I will be doing a lot of traveling, and I will not always be starting tournaments. I expect others to do this.

8 ) Tournaments held at US-friendly times should be held at US-friendly sites whenever possible.

9) There are some excellent banners Prim made that you can use in your sig line. They are for people who 1) are members; 2) have cashed in a team event; 3) have final tabled a team event; or 4) have won a team event.

The UBB code to put each in your signature is below the picture. To put one in your signature, copy the UBB code, go to "profile" and paste to code into your signature. If you do that, people will be able to click the picture to get more info.

[Fumseck]

There seem to be some confusion on how to calculate the share for the slugs, can you add this to the FAQ?

How to calculate the share of each SLUGS.

Win is lower than 1000 + buy-in.