Need for Getting into the Top Three Positions in Poker Tournaments
The List of Rough Figures
If you have played a handful of games in poker tournaments, you would have witnessed that nothing pays as much as the first three positions at the end of the game. In most of the cases, the difference between second and third or even third and fourth position becomes too significant that it will definitely make a difference with regards to where you stand.
Considering the generalized list of $40 PokerStars tournament which may consist of approximately 500 players, we can get a precise idea. The players in the first, second, and third place will get 25%, 15.4%, and 10.5% respectively. From fourth to ninth position, the percentage gradually decreases: 7%, 5.5%, 4.5%, 3.5%, 2.6%, and 1.7%. For the players in 10th – 18th positions, the percentage of payout is 1.1%, 19th – 27th it is 0.7% whereas players at position 28th – 36th and 37th – 45th will get 0.5% and 0.4% respectively.
Analyzing the Figures
You need no further explanation that it does matter if you missed the second/third place and got fourth place. As your position drops relative to the top three, the percentage difference becomes meager. Your decision must be based on your position at the end of the game.