Part: Part Thirteen - Miscellaneous

Chip-chop versus ICM

Pre-flop
Blinds 400 / 800Pot 1,200 (1.5 BB)Final 3 • you're the chip leaderBTN● 60,000 (75 BB)YOUyou lead with ~44%SB● 20,000 (25 BB)Player 2~25%BB● 25,000 (31.2 BB)Player 3~31%D

Final three and you're the commanding chip leader (about 44% of the chips). The other two propose an ICM-based deal, which flattens the payouts toward equal.

You're the chip leader; the others offer an ICM deal that compresses the payouts. Best?

WhyCounter with a chip-chop. Understand the two methods: a chip-chop pays each player in proportion to their chips (which favors you as the leader), while ICM compresses payouts toward equal (which favors the shorter stacks). As the chip leader, prefer a chip-chop or negotiate up from the ICM number - don't accept a deal that pays you less than your chips are worth.
What happensYou counter for a chip-chop.  Know which formula favors you before you sign.
Deal math matters: a chip-chop pays proportional to chips (good for the leader), while ICM flattens toward equal (good for the short stacks). Know which one your stack favors and negotiate accordingly.

In deal-making, a chip-chop rewards big stacks and ICM rewards short stacks - as the chip leader, push for a chip-chop and don't accept less than your chips are worth.