ICM

Also: Independent Chip Model

Independent Chip Model: a way of converting tournament chips into their real money value, given the payout structure. Because payouts are not proportional to chips, losing your stack costs more than doubling it gains — which is why correct tournament play near the bubble and at final tables is tighter than chip counts alone would suggest.

Related terms

Full glossary

Bubble

The point in a tournament just before the payouts begin: the next player eliminated leaves with nothing while …

In the money

Having outlasted enough of the field to be guaranteed a payout. In most events roughly the top 12–15% of entra…

Add-on

A one-time option at the end of the rebuy period to buy extra chips regardless of your stack size. Almost alwa…

Big blind ante

A tournament format where, instead of every player posting an ante, the player in the big blind posts one larg…

Bounty

A cash prize paid for knocking a specific player out of a tournament. In a knockout event every player carries…

Bracelet

The gold bracelet awarded to the winner of every World Series of Poker event — the most coveted trophy in the …

Bubble factor

A number that expresses how much more losing a pot costs you than winning it gains you, in tournament equity t…

Buy-in

What it costs to enter a tournament, or the amount you bring to a cash-game table. Tournament buy-ins are usua…