progressHow to use an ICM calculator
Four steps, and one worked example with a real decision.
An ICM calculator is most useful away from the table: you recreate a spot you remember and learn which of your instincts were right.
Step 1: enter stacks and payouts
Type the stacks of all players left, in any currency of chips, and the payouts as percentages or amounts. For a bubble with 5 players and 4 paid you might use stacks 6000, 5000, 3000, 1500, 1000 and payouts 45, 28, 17, 10.
Step 2: read the equity table
| Stack | Share of chips | ICM equity | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6000 | 36.4% | 29.3% | -7.1 |
| 5000 | 30.3% | 27.1% | -3.2 |
| 3000 | 18.2% | 20.9% | +2.8 |
| 1500 | 9.1% | 13.3% | +4.3 |
| 1000 | 6.1% | 9.4% | +3.3 |
Positive difference means the stack is worth more than its chips, negative means less. Notice that the two biggest stacks lose value, and the short stacks gain.
Step 3: test a decision
Suppose the 3000-chip player is considering calling an all-in from the 6000-chip player: he risks his whole 3000 to win 3000 (with blinds and antes ignored). In chip EV he needs 50% equity. Using the calculator you set the stacks after a win (6000) and after a loss (0) and compare the equity: the break-even equity is higher than 50%, and the bubble factor explains by how much.
Step 4: remember the pattern
- The closer to the money, the higher the bubble factor.
- Medium stacks are most under pressure.
- Short stacks should consider what each opponent can afford to call.
Open the ICM calculator and try this example, then change the payouts to a flat structure to see the difference.
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Related guides
Questions
Can I use any number of players?
Our calculator supports up to ten players and any number of paid places.
Does the calculator include blinds?
No. ICM works with chip stacks only, so you account for blinds and antes yourself.
Does it give an exact bubble factor?
It computes the bubble factor for every pair of players using the same model, so the numbers are consistent with the equity table.
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progressGTO guides use our own solution book (v13, 8-max tournaments with ante, chip EV): an approximation of equilibrium with a modelled postflop, not an exact solution. Numbers are computed from the book and from the exact ICM model.
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