There are times that poker strategy gets a little too complicated for the ordinary player. While many players pride themselves on knowing the odds and being “math-based,” many others need additional help to compute the correct decision either in real-time or retrospect. One of the most valuable strategies that I’ve always used as a reference point is the Independent Chip Model (ICM).

The ICM explains the value of each and every chip in a tournament. It is not something that tells you how to play, but instead tells you the value of your stack. From that information, you can make the right decision.

Finish the Story

Some stuff is too weird for most people to understand. Time slows down as you move faster. Most of our universe consists of dark matter. We can’t see it. And we don’t know what it is. Fine. But there’s also strangeness happening every single day when we gamble – when we play poker.

Think about this: Sometimes betting with an advantage puts you at a disadvantage. Sure, it’s diffi cult to understand, but you need to grasp it in order to make top-quality decisions in poker and in life. Among skilled gamblers who are emotionally stable and trying hard to make a profi t, failure to understand that concept is the single most likely cause of bankroll meltdown. This failing is especially harmful in poker tournaments. So, I guess I should tell you how it works.

What’s one thing we use every day that adds so much to our lives yet we rarely think about? It’s something that we seldom ever see at the poker table, but with every snack we eat or sip we take, we ultimately realize the importance of… the tongue. Yes, the tongue. What will I think of next? It’s out of the way. It’s hidden. So how could anything involving the tongue assist you with poker tells? Just like any other part of our body, the tongue can give away information and I would be remiss if I didn’t increase your poker education by mentioning the tells associated with the tongue.

Finish the Story

Tournament strategy differs greatly compared to a live ring game structure. Although one usually looks for favorable odds and a positive expected value (pos ev) when playing in a live game, one has to consider the most important factor when playing a tournament. YOU HAVE TO SURVIVE ABOVE ALL ELSE!. Once your chips are gone, you are finished. Savvy tournament players will use this factor to their advantage. They also sometimes forget that the novice tournament player may not have this knowledge. There have been more than a few early exits by the Pro who forgets who they are playing against . The biggest advantage for a pro therefore occurs when the opponent knows enough about tournament strategy to fear being knocked out.

Tournament strategy differs greatly compared to a live ring game structure. Although one usually looks for favorable odds and a positive expected value (pos ev) when playing in a live game, one has to consider the most important factor when playing a tournament. YOU HAVE TO SURVIVE ABOVE ALL ELSE!. Once your chips are gone, you are finished. Savvy tournament players will use this factor to their advantage. They also sometimes forget that the novice tournament player may not have this knowledge. There have been more than a few early exits by the Pro who forgets who they are playing against . The biggest advantage for a pro therefore occurs when the opponent knows enough about tournament strategy to fear being knocked out.