ICM Calculator
Enter every stack and the payouts. The calculator converts chips into prize equity with the Independent Chip Model and shows the bubble factor and the equity you need for an all-in against one opponent.
One value per player, separated by commas or spaces. From 2 to 10 players.
From 1st place down, in money or percent. You can list fewer payouts than players.
Prize equity
| Seat | Chips | Chips % | ICM value | % of prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5,000 | 50% | 38.39 | 38.4% |
| 2 | 3,000 | 30% | 32.75 | 32.8% |
| 3 | 2,000 | 20% | 28.86 | 28.9% |
Bubble factor of an all-in
Both of you put in the smaller of the two stacks. Blinds and antes are ignored.
- Bubble factor
- 1.55
- Equity needed to call
- 60.7%
- Chips at risk
- 3,000
- ICM value if you win: 41.00
- ICM value if you lose: 20.00
- Without ICM, a chip-EV call needs 50%.
Malmuth-Harville model: finishing chances are proportional to chips. It ignores skill, position, future blinds and bounties.
Embed this calculator on your site
Free to use. Paste this code where the calculator should appear; the link under it is part of the code, please keep it.
How ICM is calculated
ICM assumes the chance to finish first equals your share of all chips. To find the chance of finishing second, it removes each possible winner in turn and repeats the calculation with the chips left, and so on down the places. Multiplying each place chance by its payout and adding them up gives the prize equity of a stack.
The result is not linear: chips you win are worth less than chips you lose. The bubble factor measures this for an all-in. It is the equity you lose when you bust divided by the equity you gain when you win. A factor of 1.5 means you risk 1.5 times more than you can win.
The equity you need to call is bubble factor ÷ (1 + bubble factor). In a cash game or a winner-take-all format the factor is 1 and you need 50% in a heads-up all-in; near the bubble it is higher and you need more.
Worked example
Three players have 5,000 / 3,000 / 2,000 chips and the payouts are $50 / $30 / $20. ICM values the stacks at $38.39, $32.75 and $28.86: the big stack holds 50% of the chips but only 38% of the prizes.
The 3,000 stack against the 5,000 stack risks 3,000 chips. Winning lifts the player from $32.75 to $41.00, losing drops them to $20.00. The bubble factor is 1.55, so calling needs about 61% equity, not 50%.
Questions and answers
What does ICM mean in poker?
Independent Chip Model, a mathematical model that converts tournament chips into their share of the prize pool using the payout structure.
What is a bubble factor?
The ratio between what you lose by busting and what you gain by doubling. The higher it is, the more equity you need to take an all-in.
Can I enter prizes as percentages?
Yes. ICM is linear in the payouts, so dollars and percentages give the same shares. The ICM value column then shows the same unit you entered.
When is ICM not accurate?
ICM ignores skill differences, position and future blinds, and bounty tournaments pay part of the prize per knockout. Treat the result as a guide, not an exact answer.
Related guides
The calculator is an educational tool, it does not predict results and is not financial advice. Play only with money you can afford to lose: responsible gambling.