ICM and Final-Table Deals: Chip Chop vs ICM Chop

Late in a tournament, players sometimes agree to split the remaining prize money instead of playing on. The two common methods give different answers — and knowing why matters.

The example

Three players are left. Stacks: 50,000, 30,000 and 20,000. Prizes still to pay: $5,000, $3,000 and $2,000.

Chip chop

Everyone is guaranteed third-place money. The rest is shared by chip count.

Guaranteed: $2,000 each, so $6,000 is paid; $4,000 is left.
The leader has 50% of the chips: $2,000 + $2,000 = $4,000
30% stack: $2,000 + $1,200 = $3,200
20% stack: $2,000 + $800 = $2,800

ICM chop

The Independent Chip Model works out how likely each stack is to finish in each place, then values them. Plug the stacks and payouts into our ICM calculator:

Stack	Chip %	Chip chop	ICM chop
50,000	50%	$4,000	$3,839
30,000	30%	$3,200	$3,275
20,000	20%	$2,800	$2,886

The chip leader gets less under ICM, and the short stacks get more.

Why the leader gets less

Doubling your chips doesn’t double your prize. The leader can win at most $5,000, however many chips they have, while the short stack is already guaranteed $2,000. Each extra chip is worth less money the more of them you own. A chip chop ignores that and overpays the leader.

That’s why short stacks often propose chip chops — and why leaders should run the ICM numbers first.

Before you agree to a deal

Check the rules. Some events don’t allow deals, and online sites handle them through their own tools.
ICM ignores skill. If you’re clearly the strongest player, or the blinds are about to become huge, you might ask for more (or play on).
Leave something to play for. Many deals keep a small amount — and the trophy — for the winner.

Learn the strategy side in ICM and Final Tables: Tournament Equity Explained and Final Table Strategy.

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