What is Independent Chip Model in poker?

ICM (Independent Chip Model) is a mathematical model that translates a tournament chip stack into its real monetary value based on the prize pool structure. It explains why, at a final table, simply surviving can sometimes be worth more in expected dollars than accumulating additional chips — because busting drops you to zero regardless of stack size. ICM considerations reshape optimal strategy near the bubble and at final tables compared to standard chip-EV thinking used earlier in a tournament.

Independent Chip Model (Independent Chip Model) belongs to the Tournaments group of poker terms and shows up in almost every hand of Texas Hold'em. If you are starting out, read the poker rules and the hand rankings first, then come back here. To practise risk-free you can play against our AI right on the site.