Payout structure for 14-man $50 buyin tournament?

[Jaraim]

Surprisingly, we've never had a poker night with this many people. It looks like we're going to get at least 14 people show up for tonight's tournament.

Usually, we tend to focus on paying out slightly less money to more people than paying out slightly more money to less people. It usually works out to be ~ 1/3 of the people at least get their buyin back.

I was thinking a structure like this:

Total prize pool: $700 (payouts are gross, not net)

First place: $300
Second place: $200
Third place: $100
Fourth place: $50
Fifth place: $50

or

First place: $400
Second place: $150
Third place: $100
Fourth place: $50

Any suggestions/comments? This is a tournament with no rebuys and no addons (the norm for us).

[GaylordFocker]

With anything less than 20 players, I like to see 3 places paid (50-30-20) or 4 at the most. (40-30-20-10)

Of course, some people like to see more people paid less......but it seems to lessen the 'reward' for good play by the winner/runner up.

[razor]

I wouldn't pay Top 5 with 14 participants and I also think that anyone who finishes in the money should make some sort of profit.


I'd use...

1st - 50% - $350
2nd - 25% - $175
3rd - 15% - $105
4th - 10% - $70

[rocky]

I'd like to have this kind of quandry. Too many of the guys I play with want winner take all. Even in a $100 buy in with 12 players or more. Trying hard to explain that almost no tournaments are set up that way. We have been able to get them to accept a top 3 payout when playing $20-30 buy in but not in the "bigger" game for some reason.

[Big O]

[ QUOTE ]

1st - 50% - $350
2nd - 25% - $175
3rd - 15% - $105
4th - 10% - $70

[/ QUOTE ]

I would use this as well or 50/30/20

[Lottery Larry]

For 14 players at $50 each, here's mine:

$335.00
$200.00
$105.00
$60.00

As to this by another poster: "but it seems to lessen the 'reward' for good play by the winner/runner up"

How much luck is involved here also? It doesn't take much to get rivered and lose out, or river someone and move up- as I recently did with KQ against AK when the Q gave me two pair on the river, busting my opponent down to where he eventually finished 4th while allowing me to eventually place 2nd.

Don't overvalue skill in tournament prize structures IMHO.

[SenecaJim]

I second Razor's idea.