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- ♠️🏆️ Tourney Tuesday: What the Hell is ICM?
♠️🏆️ Tourney Tuesday: What the Hell is ICM?
Win when it matters most
Mike Deckard
May 27, 2025
♠️🏆️ Tourney Tuesday: What the Hell is ICM?
🤔 Let’s Start With a Question:
You’re deep in a $100 tournament. Only 4 players remain—you’ve laddered up many times (hit a bunch of pay jumps).
But not all final tables are created equal.
Look at these two payout structures.
Would you play the same way in both? Why or why not?
🪙 Structure 1: Flat Payouts
Place | Payout |
|---|---|
25th-20th | $300 |
19th-15th | $350 |
14th-12th | $400 |
11th-10th | $450 |
9th | $500 |
8th | $600 |
7th | $750 |
6th | $850 |
5th | $950 |
4th | $1,050 |
3rd | $1,150 |
2nd | $1,400 |
1st | $1,800 |
💸 Structure 2: Top-Heavy Payouts
Place | Payout |
|---|---|
25th-20th | $250 |
19th-15th | $270 |
14th-12th | $300 |
11th-10th | $325 |
9th | $350 |
8th | $400 |
7th | $450 |
6th | $500 |
5th | $550 |
4th | $600 |
3rd | $1,500 |
2nd | $2,000 |
1st | $3,700 |
🔭 The Power of Extremes: Directional Thinking
One of the best things you can do in poker is frame decisions at the edges:
How would I bluff at a 100-person table versus heads up?
We’re doing that here, but with payout ladders.
Look at the structures above—would you use the same strategy for both? If not, what changes?
🧮 What is ICM, Really?
ICM (Independent Chip Model) is just a way to put a value on your tournament life, based on the payout jumps ahead.
Flat payouts: Each jump is modest, so you can take more risks and try to win.
Top-heavy payouts: One spot can mean thousands of dollars. Survival is critical. Caution is king when your stack is threatened.
❓ ICM Asks:
How much more do you win if you outlast one more player?
How much do you lose if you bust before the next pay jump?
👍👍👍 Rule of Thumb When Deep
Flat payout? Go for the win.
Top-heavy? Survive.
🎟️ Take It Further: Satellites
In satellites (where everyone left wins a seat), the structure is even more top-heavy. It doesn’t matter if you’re first or last to qualify—just survive. That’s ICM in its purest form.
Don’t treat every tournament the same. No need to be an ICM nerd, just be directionally accurate.
Stay sharp and curious
— Mike
Want 1-on-1 help with understanding and implementing ICM?
Book a coaching session and get real feedback on your tournament game.
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