# Stan Frequently Asked Questions

**URL:** <https://discourse.mc-stan.org/t/stan-frequently-asked-questions/35>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [August 15, 2016, 3:32am UTC](https://discourse.mc-stan.org/t/stan-frequently-asked-questions/35 "2016-08-15T03:32:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![betanalpha](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.mc-stan.org/betanalpha/32/4_2.png) [@betanalpha](https://discourse.mc-stan.org/u/betanalpha)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 3:32am UTC](https://discourse.mc-stan.org/t/stan-frequently-asked-questions/35/1 "2016-08-15T03:32:27Z")

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## [Can I Throw Away Chains?](#chain_garbage)

_When I run multiple chains a few behave oddly, for example getting stuck at constant values or drifting to extreme values. Can I throw those chains away and just keep the chains that seem to fit correctly?_

No! Markov chain Monte Carlo yields valid fits only when all chains behave the same independently of all others. Those oddly behaving chains are not exceptional, rather they indicate that there are pathological regions of parameter space that the “good” chains just haven’t yet reached.

Unless _all_ chains behave the same your fits are suspect.

## [Question 2?](#q2)

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**Author:** ![betanalpha](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.mc-stan.org/betanalpha/32/4_2.png) [@betanalpha](https://discourse.mc-stan.org/u/betanalpha)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 3:32am UTC](https://discourse.mc-stan.org/t/stan-frequently-asked-questions/35/2 "2016-08-15T03:32:33Z")

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**Author:** ![betanalpha](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.mc-stan.org/betanalpha/32/4_2.png) [@betanalpha](https://discourse.mc-stan.org/u/betanalpha)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 3:33am UTC](https://discourse.mc-stan.org/t/stan-frequently-asked-questions/35/3 "2016-08-15T03:33:31Z")

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