[ICM Basics] What is ICM?

The core conclusion of Poker ICM: Tournament chips are not equal in value.

Cash table:100 chips = fixed amount

Winning 100 and losing 100: have the same value

But the tournament is different.

The pain of losing 100 chips often outweighs the gain of gaining 100 chips.

What is ICM?

ICM Full Name:Independent Chip Model

Its function isNumber of chipsConverted into bonus value

ICM studies money, not chips.

Why is ICM needed?

Assuming onlyThe remaining 10 peopleThe prize money is as follows:
1st Place: $10,000
2nd Place: $6,000
3rd place: $4,000

At this point, every decision affects the bonus.

Tournaments are essentially about competing for prize money, not chips.

The biggest difference between cash games and tournaments

Cash table:Chip EV
championship:Dollar EV

The same chip EV does not necessarily result in the same prize EV.

Classic Cases

The remaining 3 people:You ranked second.

The other short code only has 1BB left.At this point, you might not be willing to risk going all in.Because short codes are about to be phased out.

ICM will make you give up some Chip EVs

Why do chips depreciate in value?

For example：10,000 chips become 20,000 chips

This does not mean the prize money will double.但 10,000 chips reduced to zero.You may lose all your bonus opportunities.

The most distinctive feature of ICM is the diminishing value of its tokens.

When is ICM most important?

include:
→ Bubble
→ Final Table
→ Skip to bonus stage

The greater the prize money difference, the stronger the impact of ICM.

Why do so many players lose at ICM?

becauseLooking only at the strength of the hand,But overlooked:
→ Chip Structure
→ Bonus Structure
→ Survival value

Tournaments are not simply about comparing card strength.

How do professional gamers view ICM?

Experts will analyze:
→ Chip Quantity
→ Ranking
→ Bonus Jump
→ Opponent pressure

The real core of the decision is the bonus EV.

The most common mistakes of novices

→ Use cash table thinking to play MTT
→ Ignore bonus jump
→ Bubble Circle Random Calls
→ Final table only considers win rate

Many people's problem isn't card skills, but rather a lack of understanding of ICM.

Advanced understanding: ICM × EV × Survival value

True professional gamers will analyze:
→ Chip EV
→ Dollar EV
→ Risk Premium
→ Bonus Structure
→ Survival value

The essence of ICM is to teach you the true value behind the chips.

Key conclusions

ICM tells us that in tournaments, chips are not equivalent to money; survival itself has value.

When you begin to understand ICM, you will truly step into the world of high-level tournament strategy.