Pay jump

The extra prize money for finishing one place higher.

Last updated October 16, 2026

What it means: At a final table every bust-out moves the remaining players up a place, and each place pays more than the one below it. That difference is the pay jump.
How it is calculated: Look at the payout gaps. When they are big, ICM grows: outlasting a short stack is worth real money, so medium stacks fold more and gamble less.
Worked example: With 4 left paying 50, 26, 15 and 9, the jump from fourth to third is 6 points of the prize pool. A medium stack that busts now gives up that jump and more, so it avoids flips against stacks that cover it.
Why it matters: Pay jumps are why final table ranges differ from chip EV charts, and why a short stack's all-in affects everyone else's decision.