Deal or No Deal? How to Make a Deal at a Poker Final Table

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Arved Klöhn Pokerlistings Author
  • Fact Checked by: PokerListings
  • Last updated on: January 6, 2025

When you make the final table of a large multi-table tournament, one of the most important decisions facing you may be whether or not you want to make a deal.

As with all other aspects of poker, you rack up long-term profit by making the correct choice when faced with a decision at the table.

Before you can decide whether or not to make or accept a deal, you have to have enough knowledge of deals to make an informed and profitable decision. The first step is understanding the types of deals to be made, and how they work.

Types of Poker Final Table Deals

The Chip Chop

The first type of deal is the chip-chop. This deal is the most common since it’s the easiest to understand and seems absolutely fair and reasonable to all players involved.

How it works: Each player receives a percentage of the total final-table prize pool equal to the ratio of their chip amount to the total chips in play.

Example: Suppose Player A has 30,000 chips out of a total of 150,000 chips in play. This means Player A holds 20% of the chips. If the total prize pool is $100,000, Player A would receive $20,000 under the Chip Chop agreement.

Example from real tournament. Let’s use the 2008 WSOP Main Event final table for our example. First, the prize pool:

PlacePrize Amount
1st$9,119,517
2nd$5,790,024
3rd$4,503,352
4th$3,763,515
5th$3,088,012
6th$2,412,510
7th$1,769,174
8th$1,286,672
9th$900,670

Total prize pool: $32,633,446

Second, stack sizes:

PlaceChip Count
Dennis Phillips$26,295,000
Ivan Demidov$24,400,000
Scott Montgomery$19,690,000
Peter Eastgate$18,375,000
Ylon Schwartz$12,525,000
Darus Suharto$12,520,000
David “Chino” Rheem$10,230,000
Craig Marquis$10,210,000
Kelly Kim$2,620,000

Total chips in play: $136,865,000

Finally, we can calculate the chip-chop amounts. If the final nine were to make a deal before starting play (and if they all hadn’t already received ninth-place money), this is how the numbers would work out:

PlayerChips%Chip-Chop Amount
Dennis Phillips$26,295,00019.21%$6,269,655.96
Ivan Demidov$24,400,00017.83%$5,817,821.08
Scott Montgomery$19,690,00014.39%$4,694,790.87
Peter Eastgate$18,375,00013.43%$4,381,248.46
Ylon Schwartz$12,525,0009.15%$2,986,402.01
Darus Suharto$12,520,0009.15%$2,985,209.83
David Rheem$10,230,0007.47%$2,439,193.02
Craig Marquis$10,210,0007.46%$2,434,424.31
Kelly Kim$2,620,0001.91%$624,700.46

The Even Spread

The second deal type to mention is the even spread, which really is as simple as it sounds. In fact it’s so simple, no chart is needed to explain it.

Every player receives an even share of the total prize pool. In the case of the 2008 WSOP ME, each of the final nine players would receive $3,625,938.

Example: In a final table with 5 players and a total prize pool of $50,000, each player would receive an equal share of $10,000 under the Even Spread deal.

Haggle ‘n’ Swindle

The final type of deal making I’ll dub the haggle ‘n’ swindle. This is the deal process where anything goes. There are many tournament players who have an amazing aptitude at creating elaborate final-table deals that greatly benefit themselves – and then convincing the other players to accept.

A good salesman can sell anything, regardless of whether the buyer needs or even wants the goods up for sale. I’ve seen players in situations much like Kelly Kim somehow manage to get a share of booty equal to a finishing rank far above reasonable expectation.

Example: Player B managed to negotiate a deal where they secured 40% of the prize pool ($40,000) by leveraging their strong position and persuasive skills, while the remaining $60,000 was split among the other players.

For Your Consideration

So how do you know when to make or take a deal, and what type of deal is best for you? Hopefully by now you’ve come to realize that creating your own haggle ‘n’ swindle deal is much more difficult than you might have imagined.

You have to be able to do a large amount of math on the fly while at the same time creating webs of logic to convince or confuse the other players.

Because of this difficulty, more often than not you’re going to be facing the option of one of the first two deal types.

If you look at the charts for the chip-chop, you’ll see that by taking a chip-chop, Kelly Kim would actually lose a minimum of $300k.

When stack sizes are in the extremes, a chip-chop will rarely make logical sense. Even if you flip it, and put eight of the players with a combined amount of chips worth less than 50%, the ninth player holding the majority, a chip-chop is a rotten deal for everyone but the leader.

Before making or accepting a deal, you need to consider the following:

  • Your skill level versus the skill of the other players
  • Your current mental state
  • Your opponents’ current mental state
  • Your current financial situation
  • The current financial situation of your opponents
  • The confidence of your opponents
  • Your opponents’ previous final-table success

The more of this i

Poker Final Table Deals: Rules of Thumb

As a rule of thumb, you don’t want to consider making a deal until there are four or fewer players remaining. If you look at the payout structure, the greatest increases in pay happen from fourth to first.

This is where the majority of the total prize money sits, meaning a deal with any more players than that will most commonly cost you more money than it’s worth.

Once you’re down to four or fewer players, you first need to take a very honest, brutal look at yourself. How are you playing right now? How are you feeling? And are you able to maintain your level of play for the duration of the event?

If you don’t have the energy to play your best poker until the finish, you may be better off making a deal to grant you more money than a regular second-place finish would.

If you are not sure you can win, but you are sure you can get more money in a deal than you can make from second place, you should always make that deal.

The same goes for the third-place payout, trying to make it to heads-up. If you are truly exhausted and unable to play quality poker, while your opponents are at the top of their game, getting guaranteed more money than a standard third-place finish is often your best choice.

After you consider yourself, consider your opponents. If your opponents are playing in a tournament above their bankroll, they will be more apt to make a deal than a player looking for the win.

A guaranteed $10,000 looks better to someone with $400 in their account than risking busting next for a $6,000 payday.

Take stock of who your opponents are, where they stand, and what they need. Get the numbers straight, ideally in front of you on paper. You want to actually see the payouts, the stacks and the percentages.

Know your options, and who stands to gain the most. Always figure out what is best for you at that very moment first, and then make the best choice based on what you know about your opponents.

If you take the time to consider all these factors first, chances are you’ll always end up in the good by making a deal.

3 More Additional Tips

1. Psychological Tactics. Understanding the psychological dynamics at the table can significantly influence the outcome of deal negotiations. Recognizing when opponents are bluffing, displaying signs of fatigue, or showing confidence can provide leverage in persuading them to accept favorable terms.

2. Assessing Opponents’ Playing Styles. Analyzing the playing styles of your opponents—whether they are aggressive, passive, or unpredictable—can help you tailor your negotiation approach. For instance, more aggressive players might be swayed by the promise of guaranteed payouts, while analytical players might respond better to logical arguments based on chip distribution.

3. Don’t be shy to make temporarily alliance. Forming temporary alliances with other players can provide mutual benefits during negotiations. By collaborating, you can create more favorable deal terms that benefit both parties involved.

FAQ

What is a Chip Chop, and how does it work?

A Chip Chop is a type of deal where the prize pool is distributed among players proportionally based on their chip counts relative to the total chips in play. For example, if a player holds 20% of the chips, they receive 20% of the prize pool.

When is it most advantageous to propose a Chip Chop deal?

A Chip Chop is most beneficial when you have a significant chip advantage and wish to secure a portion of the prize without risking further elimination. It’s particularly useful when opponents have smaller stacks and may prefer a guaranteed payout over continuing to play.

What are the pros and cons of an Even Spread deal?

The Even Spread deal is straightforward and ensures all players receive an equal share of the prize pool, which eliminates potential conflicts over chip counts. However, it doesn’t account for the varying contributions of each player’s chip stack, potentially disadvantaging those with larger stacks.

How can I effectively negotiate a Haggle ‘n’ Swindle deal?

To successfully negotiate a Haggle ‘n’ Swindle deal, you need strong persuasive skills, confidence, and the ability to read your opponents. Present a compelling argument that highlights the mutual benefits of the deal, and be prepared to counter any objections with logical reasoning.

What factors should I consider before accepting a deal at the final table?

Before accepting a deal, evaluate your skill level relative to your opponents, your current mental and physical state, your financial needs, and the confidence of your opponents in their own abilities. Additionally, assess the potential long-term profitability of the deal compared to the possible outcomes of continuing to play.

How does bankroll management influence deal-making decisions?

Effective bankroll management allows you to make informed decisions based on your financial situation and long-term goals rather than short-term emotions. By managing your funds wisely, you can better determine when to take risks or secure a guaranteed payout through a deal.

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