Poker Tournament Payout

I use the following payout structure. My payout tends to favor the winner so you might consider flattening your structure so that more is paid to the non-winners.

Make sure your payout structure is clearly stated on your flyer announcing the tourney and also make sure it is posted in plain view of each table. Printable copies of this payout structure are included on the Downloads page and the HPT Poker Sheet.

Ensure that you have established a rule for what happens when several players bust out at the same time. Do they split the payout between them or does the player who had the most chips at the start of the hand win the prize? I use the 'everyone splits the pot' rule because I have found that it is sometimes difficult to remember who had the most chips at the start of the hand.

Most tournaments allow players to cut 'side deals' to split payouts. For example, the final two players might agree to split the first and second prize payouts between the two of them. Keep in mind that a top heavy payout (high percentage paid out to the winner) will often result in the remaining players agreeing to split the payout between them. A more balanced payout (many players being paid) will probably result in no payout deals being made because the payout is already spread out between many players.

The Tournament Director is never responsible for anything to do with side deals. Any such side deals are strictly between the players.

Here is PokerStars 18 player tourney payout ...

Here is a typical final table payout of 9 players ...

Check out the Party Poker Multi-table Payout schedules for tournaments payouts with hundreds of players.

The Foxwoods schedules on the Misc Blinds page have several examples of large tourney payout structures.