Push/Fold Trainer
Short-stacked tournament decisions. Should you shove all-in or fold?
WHAT IS ICM?
ICM (Independent Chip Model) converts tournament chips into real money value. In tournaments, chips aren't worth face value - the last chip is worth more than the first chip.
On the bubble: You should fold more than chip-optimal because busting out = $0, but folding into the money = guaranteed payout.
In the money: ICM pressure eases slightly since you've already locked up a min-cash, but pay jumps still matter.
Final table: Every elimination means a significant pay jump. ICM pressure is high - avoid marginal spots unless you're the short stack.
As short stack: You must push wide because blinds will eat you. Waiting for premium hands = death by blinds.
ANTES & DEAD MONEY
In modern tournaments, antes are standard. They add dead money to every pot, making stealing more profitable. With a big blind ante, you should push significantly wider than in a no-ante structure.
Standard ante: Each player posts 10% of the big blind. At a 9-player table this adds 0.9 BB to the pot (total dead money: 2.4 BB).
Big blind ante: One player posts an ante equal to the big blind. This adds 1.0 BB to the pot (total dead money: 2.5 BB). This format has become very common for its simplicity.
No ante: The classic structure with only 1.5 BB of dead money (small blind + big blind). Push ranges are tighter here.