Something that never ceases to amaze me is how much a professional poker player can make from losing. And not just coming in second or third, but totally tanking it down to the 20th place or lower. Yes, I know, 20th place is phenomenal when considering the starting pool of thousands of players on PokerStars, but I can’t help but to wonder whether some of these players subconsciously change their game after getting “in the money,” and if it hurts the game and spectators as a result. Because let’s face it, nobody enjoys watching somebody strive to get 35th place.

Let me throw out a few timely examples. In this year’s World Series of Poker main event, Leo Margets won $352,832, and he finished in 27th place. Pretty nice deal. He didn’t really lose anything by ending on that note, so how can we really sympathize with the loser who got sent home on an ill-advised all-in call? It’s noted that this is the biggest tournament of the year, and like in other sports, the players get paid whether they win or lose, but for those watching at home, poker has always been different. You can plaster it up there on ESPN, but it’s not a traditional “sport.”

Here’s another one – Jordan Smith finished in 10th place (ouch, just missing the cut). So what does he get as a parting gift? How about almost $900,000. Sounds like a winning prize to me.

But back to my earlier statement. Obviously ever player’s ultimate goal is to win whatever Poker Star tournament he or she has entered. But the strategy for many is just to get to the top of whatever table their playing at the time. Makes sense, an attainable benchmark that doesn’t set the bar too far out. Kinda like a kid climbing the monkey bars in a park. You have to grab that bar right in front of you before you grab the next one or you’ll fall. Well, the “in the money” bar is just as easy for players to set their sights on, and if they make it across that threshold, they can let their guard down and make decisions they otherwise wouldn’t if they knew it meant more of a financial penalty.

Next time you’re watching poker anywhere, take note of a few players (since they all might not progress) and watch their play and decision-making through the early rounds to the later tables. Pick a star and a few unknowns. I’ll bet you notice a difference in the feel of their play after they qualify for the money. If you’re taking the time to watch players to improve your game anyway, this is a productive exercise.