ICM Deal Calculator
Calculate ICM equity and fair deal amounts for tournament final table chops. Enter chip stacks and prize pool for instant ICM values.
Chip Stacks
Total chips:
Payout Structure
Total prize pool:
ICM Deal Results
| Player | Chips | Chip % | ICM Equity | ICM % | Chip Chop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ICM vs. Chip Chop Comparison
The ICM Deal column shows the mathematically fair payout based on each player's probability of finishing in each position. The Chip Chop column shows a simple proportional split based on chip count. ICM typically favors shorter stacks because it accounts for the guaranteed minimum payout every remaining player receives.
What Is ICM?
The Independent Chip Model (ICM) is a mathematical model used to calculate a player's equity in a tournament based on their chip stack and the remaining payout structure. Unlike cash games where chips have a fixed dollar value, tournament chips have a non-linear relationship to money — your first chip is worth more than your last.
How ICM Works
ICM uses the Malmuth-Harville method to calculate the probability of each player finishing in each position:
- 1st place probability: Player's chips ÷ Total chips
- 2nd place probability: Sum of (each other player finishing 1st) × (this player's adjusted probability of winning the remaining field)
- This process repeats recursively for each finishing position.
Each player's ICM equity is the sum of each finishing probability multiplied by the corresponding payout.
ICM Deal vs. Chip Chop
A "chip chop" simply divides the prize pool proportionally to chip counts. ICM is more equitable because it recognizes that shorter stacks have a higher per-chip value — they've already "locked up" a minimum payout. ICM deals typically pay shorter stacks more and chip leaders less compared to a chip chop.
When to Use ICM
ICM is most commonly used during final table deal negotiations, but understanding ICM pressure is also crucial for tournament strategy — especially near the money bubble, final table bubble, and pay jumps.
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