Mike was brilliant.  He figured out that he wasn't playing against the other players.  He was playing against the game and he needed to get the players out of the way.,(reply>), @Evan Boyar his goal was to optimize pay-out for the group. If his goal was to optimize his own final payment he would be 6k up.,(reply>), well said,(reply>), @William McQuaid, only if he chose the deal option. His other option was to walk away with the money without trying to make a deal.,(reply>), @William McQuaid He had a choice. Either walk away with the brief-case money no questions asked, or try to make a deal, and if no deal was made, no one would get anything.,(reply>)," @William McQuaid at <a href=""https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJSI7QTAt_o&amp;t=1h00m18s"">1:00:18</a> Tom says "that is $6",000, you have won it"