ICM, or Independent Chip Model, is a concept used in tournament poker to calculate the real-money value of a player’s chip stack based on the remaining prize pool and payouts. Unlike cash games, where chips equal cash directly, tournament chips have variable value depending on where you are in the payout structure.
ICM kicks in when real money prizes are at stake—usually near or after the bubble (the point where players start getting paid). It helps determine whether you should risk your chips or play it safe, based not just on chip count but on survival value.
A big part of ICM strategy is recognizing that busting out early can cost you more than gaining extra chips can help—especially when other players are close to elimination.
ICM teaches you that chips = potential, not cash—so sometimes the best play isn’t the one that wins the pot, but the one that keeps you in the game and in the money.
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