For people who are absorbed into the poker world through TV shows and televised tournaments, the idea of making a deal in a poker tourney may seem inconceivable.  That’s because deals aren’t something that are normally done within big poker organizations such as the World Poker Tour and the World Series of Poker.  If players were allowed to make deals at the table, it would almost certainly destroy the drama that TV producers so desperately want for their ratings.

However, off-camera and at online Texas Holdem tournaments, deals are not all that uncommon.  That’s because players are allowed to make deals at the final tables of smaller live events and many online tourneys provided they are not specifically banned by the rules.  Deals in poker tournaments normally involve all of the players at the final table agreeing on the payouts each other will receive in order to end the tournament.

The reason for this is that many of the players at the top won’t want to fall out of their lofty positions, and subsequently, out of the big money.  Also, players towards the bottom of the chip count may get a better deal than if they finish dead last or near it.  If the players work a deal out, they can decide on who will get what in regards to the prize money. 

The deal can also be made on the chip count which would end the tournament right there and award players their prize money based on the monetary value of all their chips.  But some players towards the bottom don’t like to do it this way because they may have an extremely short stack and will thus receive very little of the prize money.  In fact, anyone who refuses to take part in the deal can basically nix the whole thing provided they can’t be talked into participating.  They can also hold out for a later, and better, deal if they so choose to. 

Once all parties have agreed to a deal, they usually get the tournament officials or promoters involved so that there will be some sort of approval stamp on the whole situation.  This way somebody can’t come back later after receiving a lower payment than they thought and demand to have the tournament resume again.  Once a deal has been made and the payments are arranged, the things are usually finalized at that point.