ICM / Chip EV Estimation
Editor: dezhoupuke.orgRelated Glossary
Icm
Icm
ICM converts a tournament chip stack into a share of leftover prizes. Chip EV is not dollar EV, and cash games do not u…
ICM Pressure
ICM Pressure
ICM Pressure refers to the strategic tension exerted on a player in a poker tournament when the Independent Chip Model …
ICM Tax
ICM Tax
The opportunity cost or equity loss incurred when a player's tournament decisions deviate from the Independent Chip Mod…
ICM Chop
ICM Chop
An ICM Chop is an agreement among remaining tournament players to divide the remaining prize pool according to each pla…
Chip Chop
Chip Chop
A tournament deal where remaining players agree to divide the remaining prize pool or chips in proportion to their curr…
Deal Making
Deal Making
Deal making is the practice where remaining tournament participants agree to redistribute the prize pool before the tou…
EV Chop
EV Chop
A deal in which players agree to split the remaining prize pool based on each player's expected value EV as calculated …
Standard Deal
Standard Deal
A pre-arranged agreement among the remaining players in a poker tournament to split the remaining prize pool, typically…
ICM Calculator
ICM Calculator
A tool that applies the Independent Chip Model ICM to convert tournament chip stacks into monetary equity, helping play…
ICMizer
ICMizer
ICMizer is a poker software tool that calculates Independent Chip Model ICM equity and provides recommended strategies …
Chip EV Jam
Chip EV Jam
A Chip EV Jam is an all-in bet that is calculated to be profitable or neutral in terms of chip expected value chip EV, …
ICM Jam
ICM Jam
An all-in push in a poker tournament where the decision is primarily driven by ICM considerations, typically involving …
Related Strategy
Balancing Chip Value and Survival Value Under ICM Pressure at the Final Table
At a poker final table, ICM Independent Chip Model makes the actual value of chips non-linear. This article starts from the principles of ICM, analyzes how short stacks, medium stacks, and big stacks weigh ICM against chip EV in different situations, and provides a practical decision-making framework.
ICM vs Chip EV at the Final Table: How to Make Optimal Decisions Under Prize Pressure
In poker tournament final tables, the conflict between ICM Independent Chip Model and chip EV often confuses players. This article starts from the fundamentals, explains the differences between the two, key trade-off scenarios short stack, middle stack, chip leader, and provides practical adjustment tips to help you make better decisions under high-pressure final tables.
What is ICM?
What does ICM mean?: Win rates, common mistakes, applicable scenarios and FAQ — Mastering ICM Independent Chip Model is key to profitable final tables. This article, from basic principles to practical decisions, explains chip values, prize structures, and opponent range adjustments, helping you make optimal choices at final tables with steep payout steps.
ICM Pressure Push/Fold Strategy: How to Make Optimal Decisions During Tournament Bubble
ICM Pressure Push/Fold Strategy: How to Make Optimal Decisions During Tournament Bubble: Win rates, common mistakes, applicable scenarios, and FAQ — In tournaments, ICM Independent Chip Model changes conventional chip valuation. This tutorial explains how to adjust Push/Fold ranges under bubble or money pressure, using ICM mechanics to maximize expected value and avoid elimination from blind-stealing greed.
ICM Pay Jump Decision Tree: Maximizing Expected Value in Tournaments
In-depth analysis of the construction and application of the ICM pay jump decision tree, covering key factors such as stack sizes, payout structure, and opponent ranges, helping you make more profitable decisions in tournaments.
Detailed Explanation of ICM Calculation in Final Table Deal Agreements
ICM Independent Chip Model is a core tool for final table deal agreements, calculating each player's tournament equity based on chip counts. This article explains ICM principles, calculation methods, differences from chip chop, and how to use ICM for fair deals in practice while avoiding common logical pitfalls.
ICM vs cEV Switching Point: When to Shift from Chip Value to Survival Value
In Texas Hold'em tournaments, early on you should pursue maximizing cEV, but as the money bubble approaches or the final table nears, ICM pressure increases and strategy needs to shift to survival. This article explains the quantitative judgment method of the switching point, practical scenarios, and typical mistakes.
Final Table Deal Making Strategy Guide
Final table deal making is a key tool for reducing variance and locking in returns. This article explains common deal methods such as chip chop, ICM chop, and even chop, and teaches negotiation strategies and precautions to help you make optimal decisions in tournaments.
Final Table 3-Handed ICM Ultimate Guide: Survival Strategies from Chip Leader to Short Stack
When the final table is down to three players, ICM pressure peaks. This article explains the ICM principles of three-handed play, bubble effects, chip adjustments, and confrontation techniques to help you make EV-maximizing decisions at the critical stage. Covers targeted strategies for chip leaders, medium stacks, and short stacks, along with practical examples.
Final Table Strategy: ICM vs Chip Value, How to Make the Right Decisions
At a poker tournament final table, the actual value of chips is no longer linear. ICM Independent Chip Model tells you that the marginal value of each chip increases as you approach a payout jump, while Chip EV assumes all chips are equal. Understanding the difference and adjusting your betting, folding, and shoving decisions is key to improving final table profitability. This article will deeply analyze ICM principles, compare with Chip EV, and provide practical adjustment tips.
ICMIZER Review: How to Efficiently Apply ICM Analysis in MTT
ICMIZER is an essential ICM analysis tool for MTT players, accurately calculating decision EV in tournaments. This article reviews its core features and explains how to apply it in key stages such as bubble and final table to boost profitability.
How to Start Studying ICM Poker Strategy
ICM Independent Chip Model is a key tool for evaluating the monetary value of chips in tournament poker. This article by experienced player Bencb provides a systematic study guide, starting from understanding ICM principles, then gradually explaining practical steps such as importing hands, adjusting opponent ranges, and finding variables, to help you make better decisions in the late stages of tournaments.
Related Tools
Related Players
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Brian Kim
United States
Brian Kim is an American professional poker player with a WSOP bracelet and over $11 million in live tournament earnings. He gained international recognition with a seventh-place finish in the 2024 WSOP Main Event for $1.5 million, and has consistently excelled in high-stakes Triton Poker events, amassing multiple seven-figure scores.
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Stoyan Obretenov
Bulgaria
Stoyan Obreshkov is a Bulgarian professional poker player and coach known for his deep understanding of ICM and consistent deep runs in high-stakes tournaments. His career highlights include a third-place finish in the $5,000 SHRPO Main Event for $350,000, winning the Irish Open heads-up event for €225,000, and a seventh-place finish in the 2020 WSOP Main Event for $160,000.
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Victor Zabukas Begara
Brazil
Victor Zabukas Begara is a Brazilian professional poker player and coach for the Akkari Team, known online as VzB_Poker. He has accumulated over $650,000 in career tournament earnings, including a deep sixth-place run in the 2021 WSOP Millionaire Maker for $253,298. His results span WSOP events, WSOP Circuit stops, and online tournaments across multiple platforms.
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Daniel Klicman
Czechia
Daniel Klicman is a Czech poker player with limited public tournament records, and has not yet achieved significant results in mainstream events.
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Eetu Parpala
Finland
Eetu Parpala is a Finnish poker player and coach with a strong online presence, known for his high accuracy on the ICMIZER MTT Coach platform. He has answered over 12,000 tournament strategy questions with an 83% correct rate, demonstrating expertise in PKO and hyper-turbo formats.
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Samer Kourkis
Germany
Samer Kourkis, also known online as "Braminc," is an American professional poker player renowned for his expertise in high-stakes sit-n-go tournaments. After Black Friday, he relocated to Lebanon and continued his successful online career on PokerStars, netting hundreds of thousands of dollars through his mastery of the Independent Chip Model (ICM). He has also worked as a poker instructor for CardRunners, sharing strategies on heads-up hyper turbos and ICM applications.
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June Kim
United States
June Kim is an American poker player from Prescott, Arizona, who burst onto the national scene with a career-defining victory at the inaugural MSPT Diamond Poker Championship in early 2026. Known for his patient, comeback-driven style and willingness to play for trophies rather than ICM deals, Kim has amassed over $680,000 in lifetime tournament earnings.
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Vendel Johnson
United States
Vendel Johnson is an American poker player from Florida who works full time at Port Everglades and competes in tournaments in his spare time. He won his second career trophy in March 2022, taking down Event 7 of the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown for $26,497 after a five-way ICM deal.
Related Events
5000 USD No-Limit Hold'em Championship
A high-stakes No-Limit Hold'em tournament serving as the opener of the series, attracting top players from around the world to compete for the championship title.
WSOP Event 8: $50,000 NLH High Roller
High buy-in no-limit hold'em event in the WSOP series, attracting top professionals and high-stakes players, competing for gold bracelet honors.
Related News
Practical ICM Mastery Review: Turning Tournament Theory into Table Decisions
Alex Theologis' new Run It Once course, Practical ICM Mastery, offers a practical guide to ICM with 25+ hours of content, real hands, and tool-based learning.
ICM Calculator Bug Fixed: Fold EV Difference of -2.45 for AKs at 10BB vs 12BB in 50/30/20 Payout Structure
A Reddit user reported that a long-standing bug in the ICM calculator has been fixed. Specific case: AKs hand, 10BB vs 12BB, payout structure 50/30/20. Calculations showed a fold $EV difference of -2.45, meaning folding was a serious mistake. The bug may have previously misled player decisions and has now been corrected.
SCOOP Final Table, Would You Fold AK Preflop?
When facing huge ICM pressure at the SCOOP final table, is AK worth folding? This article analyzes the decision-making logic of poker experts in similar situations, discussing the trade-off between GTO and ICM.
Mystery Bounty Late Stage Strategy Guide
In-depth analysis of the unique strategies for the late stages of Mystery Bounty tournaments, including ICM pressure, bounty value assessment and adjustment, and key decision points in actual play.
Satellite Late-Stage Strategy: The Key to Winning from Bubble to Ticket
The late stage of a satellite tournament is the critical period to secure a ticket. The strategic focus shifts from maximizing chips to prioritizing survival. This article explains ICM principles, practical decisions, and common mistakes to help you win steadily.
Mystery Bounty ITM Strategy
Mystery bounty tournaments, after reaching the money ITM, shift strategic focus from chip accumulation to protecting chips and pursuing high-value eliminations. This article explains definitions, principles, practical examples, and common misconceptions to help players make optimal decisions.
Late-Stage Bounty Strategy: Maximizing Elimination Value and ICM Trade-offs
In the late stages of bounty tournaments, players must balance direct bounty rewards with ICM Independent Chip Model pressure. This article details the bounty value formula, range adjustments, real-world decisions, and common pitfalls to help readers make optimal choices on the bubble.
Hyper Turbo Late Stage Strategy Guide: From Theory to Practice
In-depth analysis of unique strategies for late stages of hyper-turbo tournaments, including ICM pressure, preflop all-in range adjustments, blind stealing and re-stealing techniques, and common pitfalls, helping you profit steadily in high volatility.
Turbo Final Table
Final table strategy in turbo tournaments is completely different from regular tournaments: short blinds, fast pace, high ICM pressure, requiring aggressive blind stealing and range adjustments. This article provides a comprehensive analysis from definitions and principles to practical examples and common misconceptions, explaining how to gain an advantage at turbo final tables.
In the Money Turbo Strategy
After entering the money, the pace and strategy of the tournament fundamentally change. Turbo strategy emphasizes leveraging chip advantage, aggressive blind stealing, and adapting to fast blind levels to maximize final ranking and prize money. This article explains definitions, principles, practical examples, and common mistakes to help you improve your ITM stage performance.
Bubble Hyper-Turbo Strategy Guide
Comprehensive analysis of hyper-turbo tournament bubble phase ICM pressure, aggressive blind stealing and defense strategies, covering practical examples and common mistakes, helping players improve bubble survival and profit probability.
Final Table Deep Stack Strategy
In the final table stage of a poker tournament, when stack depth exceeds 40BB, players need to shift from the conventional ICM tight-aggressive style to focusing more on value betting and range balancing. This article details preflop opening ranges under deep stacks, post-flop play, strategies against short stacks, and common misconceptions, helping you maximize profits with deep stacks at the final table.
Related
EV
EV Expected Value quantifies the average profit or loss of a decision over the long run, considering all possible outco…
GlossaryChip EV
In tournaments, since chips do not directly equate to prize money, Chip EV helps players assess whether an action is be…
GlossaryWhat is ICM in Poker?
ICM converts a tournament chip stack into a share of leftover prizes. Chip EV is not dollar EV, and cash games do not u…
ToolsIcm Chip EV Estimation
Bubble Phase Chip Value vs Pure Chip EV Comparison Reference