Poker ICM Calculator

Category: Gambling Author: Henrick Yau

- January 29, 2026

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Calculate ICM (Independent Chip Model) equity to determine the real money value of tournament chip stacks based on remaining prizes.

Tournament Structure

Number of Remaining Players:

Total Chips in Play:

Prize Pool

1st Place:

2nd Place:

3rd Place:

Player Chip Stacks

Player 1 Name:

Player 1 Chips:

Player 2 Name:

Player 2 Chips:

Player 3 Name:

Player 3 Chips:

ICM Equity Results

Total Prize Pool

$0.00

Total Chips

Player Equity Breakdown

Rank	Player	Chips	Chip %	ICM Value	ICM %

ICM vs Chip Equity Comparison

Finish Position Probabilities

Player

Understanding ICM (Independent Chip Model)

ICM is a mathematical model used to calculate a player's overall equity in a tournament. It converts tournament chip stacks into real money equity based on the payout structure.

Why ICM Matters

Chip Value: Tournament chips don't have a linear relationship to money. Doubling your chips doesn't double your equity.
Risk Assessment: ICM helps evaluate whether taking risks is profitable in tournament situations.
Deal Making: ICM provides a fair baseline for negotiating tournament deals.
Strategic Decisions: Understanding ICM helps make better decisions near the bubble and at final tables.

ICM Pressure

ICM pressure refers to the risk aversion created by prize structure. Players with medium stacks face the most ICM pressure, as they have significant money at risk. This affects calling ranges and betting strategies, especially near pay jumps.

Limitations of ICM

Assumes all players have equal skill levels
Doesn't account for position, blinds, or other tournament factors
More accurate for shorter-handed situations
Should be combined with other strategic considerations

Core idea (ICM): Your stack has a probability of finishing in each paid position. Your ICM value is the sum of those probabilities times the prizes.

\[ \text{ICM Value}_i=\sum_{k=1}^{N}\Big(\Pr(\text{Player }i\text{ finishes }k)\times \text{Prize}_k\Big) \]

Chip share (for comparison):

\[ \text{Chip \%}_i=\frac{\text{Chips}_i}{\sum_{j=1}^{N}\text{Chips}_j}\times 100 \]

ICM share (for comparison):

\[ \text{ICM \%}_i=\frac{\text{ICM Value}_i}{\sum_{k=1}^{N}\text{Prize}_k}\times 100 \]

What the Poker ICM Calculator does

The Poker ICM Calculator estimates each player’s real-money equity in a poker tournament based on: the remaining prize pool and each player’s chip stack. It helps answer a simple question: “If the tournament ended fairly, what is my stack worth in dollars?”

This is especially useful near the bubble, at final tables, and during deal talks. Tournament chips are not cash. A big stack is valuable, but extra chips often add less money value than you expect.

Why ICM matters in tournaments

Better risk assessment: You can see when a call or shove risks more money equity than it can win.
Deal making: ICM gives a neutral baseline for chops and payouts.
Clear “chip value” view: It shows why doubling chips does not always double cash equity.
Decision support near pay jumps: It highlights when survival has high value.

Think of it like an odds probability tool for tournament payouts: it turns chip stacks into probability insights about who is most likely to finish in each prize position.

What you will see in the results

After you calculate, the tool shows three main outputs:

Player Equity Breakdown: chips, chip %, ICM value, and ICM % for each player.
ICM vs Chip Equity Comparison chart: a quick visual “odds breakdown” of chip share vs money share.
Finish Position Probabilities: a table of estimated chances to place 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and so on.

This makes it easy to spot “ICM pressure” spots where a medium stack can lose a lot of money equity by busting, even if the chip odds look close.

How to use the calculator step by step

Step 1 — Set the number of remaining players: Choose 2 to 10 players still in the tournament.
Step 2 — Enter total chips in play: Use the tournament’s total chip count.
Step 3 — Enter prizes for each finishing position: Fill 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. (up to the number of players).
Step 4 — Enter each player’s name and chip stack: Add the stacks for all remaining players.
Step 5 — Click “Calculate ICM”: Review the table, chart, and finish probabilities.
Optional — Click “Reset”: Return to the default example values.

Tips for accurate inputs

Make chip totals consistent: Ideally, the sum of player chips equals “Total Chips in Play.”
Use the full payout list: Enter prizes for every remaining place you want included in equity.
Double-check currencies: Prizes are shown in dollars, but you can enter any currency as long as you stay consistent.
Include short stacks: A player with few chips can still have meaningful equity if many prizes remain.

How to read the results like a tournament player

Start with these two columns:

Chip %: your share of the chips.
ICM %: your share of the prize pool (your money equity).

If your ICM % is lower than your Chip %, your chips are “worth less” in money terms at that moment. This is common for big stacks because extra chips help you win 1st more often, but cannot win more than 1st pays.

If your ICM % is higher than your Chip %, your stack has strong survival value. This can happen with medium stacks when busting would be expensive in cash equity.

How it can help with decisions

Use the output as a quick probability checker for tournament outcomes and a guide for money risk. While it is not a full “betting odds guide,” it plays a similar role: it supports choices with clear numbers.

Calling all-ins: Compare what you gain if you win versus what you lose if you bust.
Shoving: See whether pressure on opponents is likely to be profitable due to pay jumps.
Deal talks: Use ICM values as a starting point, then adjust if players agree on changes (like chip leader premium).
Bubble play: Identify who has the most to lose and who can apply pressure.

Many players pair ICM thinking with Other tools like a Poker Odds Calculator (to calculate poker odds and poker hand probabilities) when deciding if a push is good in chips and good in money equity.

ICM limitations you should remember

Equal-skill assumption: ICM treats all players as equally skilled.
No blind levels or positions: It does not model table position, blind pressure, or future edge.
It is a model, not a guarantee: Treat outputs as structured estimates, not exact outcomes.

For a fuller view, combine ICM with strategy and your read on opponents. If you also do Sports betting or other wagering, this is similar to using an odds analysis tool: it informs decisions, but it does not remove uncertainty.

FAQ

Is this the same as chip chop?

No. A chip chop splits the prize pool by chip percentages. ICM can differ because it accounts for the payout ladder. The comparison chart helps you see the gap between chip share and ICM share.

Why does doubling my chips not double my ICM value?

Prize pools have a cap: you cannot win more than 1st prize. Extra chips raise your chance of finishing higher, but the money gain often grows slower than chip growth.

What do the finish position probabilities mean?

They are estimated chances for each player to finish in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and so on. Use them for “probability insights,” especially when evaluating high-risk spots.

What if my player chips do not match the total chips?

The calculator can still run, but mismatched totals can distort results. For the cleanest output, make the player-chip sum equal the total chip count.

Can I use this for deal negotiations?

Yes. ICM values are a common baseline for deals. Many groups start with ICM, then discuss adjustments for factors like skill edge or future blinds.

Is this a betting odds tool or odds conversion tool?

It is a tournament equity tool, but it serves a similar purpose to an odds probability tool because it turns stacks into outcome probabilities. If you need betting formats, an odds conversion tool (fractional to decimal odds, decimal to fractional odds) is separate from ICM.