$55 buy in tourney.

39 players enter.

Three players left.

1st - $680
2nd - $510
3rd - $340

Blinds just went up to 3k/6k.

Stacks are roughly 35k (me), 40k and 45k.

This is the first moment we've been roughly equal...about every three hands, over the last 20 minutes or so, at least one of us has been all in as the short stack, and doubled up.

The offer is to quit now and take $510 each.

At this point with the blinds like this it's pretty much luck as to who's gonna win.

Do you take your $510...or go for it, knowing 2 out of 3 times you're getting at least $510 anyway?

I see it as a wash myself...if you play it out 100 times, in the long run, you are going to average $510 per session.

Anyone see it differently?

With blinds this high in relation to total chips can someone create an edge to justify playing for 1st instead....that is, show that you can win $680 more often than you win $340?

With such a linear payout and knowing that I'm pretty good at a short table, *I* would play on and go for first. That might not be right for you.
But, since the difference between 3rd and first isn't life-changing money, I'd recommend you take this opportunity to practice short-handed tournament play.

If the difference between 3rd and 1st were nonlinear and/or huge, I'd more actively consider a chop.

Myself, I would chop. The relationship between the blinds and stacks is ridiculous. It's a flat out gamble. Sure poker is a gambling game but in this case there isnt much time for skill to prevail. Take the garunteed money and I wouldnt sweat over thinking I may have cost myself $170. You could come third just as easily.

You're the short stack and they're offering a 3-way even chop? Am I missing something?

Unless first means something big to you, you are getting way the best of this deal by taking an even chop when you are at a chip disadvantage with such big blinds compared to the stacks.

That's the gist of my question.

Frankly, I don't consider myself at a huge chip disadvantage...I have 6x the BB, the big stack has 7.5x the BB.

For all intents and purposes you're either all in on the hand on you're not. Though SAGE is designed for two-handed play, for all intents and purposes I'm playing SAGE here (or a very close relative), and I can't think of a better way to approach it.

I'm just looking for insight to see if anyone can justify continuing to play - that is, can anyone come up with a way to create an edge in this situation where you come in first more than you come in third, even if you're the guy with 45k....sure I chopped, and I'd have chopped if I was the guy with 45k too.

Seat order and the position of the button could nullify or exacerbate any chip advantages here.

For the "game" of it I would probably propose giving all 3 $450 and the winner getting the residual $180 (or something similar).

im chopping. i can't see any edge to be exposed here. especially with a 10k chip disadvantage to the chip leader.

As I said above, unless you have your heart set on first place, I can't justify continuing to play. You have control of less chips than the other players and you're getting paid as much as they are.

If they were weak players and you had a bit more play in your stacks (15BBs, for instance) you could make a good case for continuing. In this case, unless these guys don't know how to play tournament poker at all, you don't really have much of an edge.

Just my opinion.

Big stack has what, an M of 5? And you're the short stack? Looking at an even split? Take the money and run.

Thanks for all your responses....

In hindsight, I shouldn't have stated I was the low stack, and just left it at the three of us being pretty close....because the other piece of information I didn't give was when the offer was made I was going to be UTG/button....meaning, if we play the next hand, with 9k in the pot our stacks would have been 35k, 37k, 39k.

So, if you're the guy with 45k does your answer change? Even if you're 45k with the button?

It doesn't for me, I still chop...although I'll keep Copernicus' idea in mind the next time it comes up.

Thanks again.

Copernicus idea is good. I say go with that if you're enjoying the atmosphere and the people your playing against are worth hanging with a few more hands.

Chop is best if you just want to be done with it. I get with some real pains(not bad players, just hard to sit with) and would love just get up and go as my skill level is about even so you're rolling dice anyway.

If you're feeling lucky or are with some dimwits you may want to go for it. The risk of course is you finish third and get bitter you lost to dimwits but I know a few players that I would feel confident playing with that M and an even stack.

I think it just depends on you're mood. Unless you need that extra money, make some sort of deal.

Chop. You're the short stack & they're offering you just as much as they get. It is a crapshoot at this point so any edge you have is severely damaged.