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 ~57%SB● 20,000 (25 BB)Player 2~19%BB● 25,000 (31.2 BB)Player 3~24%D

Final three and you're the commanding chip leader (about 57% 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?

WhyThe two formulas split the pool very differently: a chip-chop pays each player straight in proportion to chips, while ICM drags every payout toward an even split. With 57% of the chips you get more from a chip-chop than from ICM, so counter with the chip-chop and don't settle below their ICM figure.
What happensYou counter with the chip-chop, so the bargaining starts from the formula that favors your stack. Wherever you settle, it shouldn't be below the ICM figure.
Deals are math, not goodwill: a chip-chop tracks chip proportion while ICM compresses payouts toward equal, so as the leader open with the chip-chop and don't settle below the ICM figure.

Chip-chop rewards big stacks and ICM rewards short stacks - know which formula your stack favors and steer the negotiation toward it.