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Endgame Poker Strategy: The ICM Book
Most poker players don't think they need to study ICM until they make a costly mistake at a big final table - don't be one of those players.
The Independent Chip Model (ICM) is the most important strategy concept in multi table tournaments, yet very few players understand it, other than knowing they should play tighter on the bubble. Not only does ICM impact the single biggest monetary decisions you make in poker, it also influences everything in a tournament from game selection, staking, when to register, playing the early levels, the bubble, the final table and much more.
Endgame Poker Strategy is the first book to take a deep dive into the subject of ICM and how it impacts how you should play in tournaments. This book contains groundbreaking insights that most professional poker players are not aware of,
• How to adjust your play in the late stages of tournaments
• When to ladder and when to play for the win
• How to negotiate profitable final table deals
• The optimal game selection, rebuy and late registration strategies
• How to play short, average and big stacks at the end of tournaments
Dara O’Kearney is a professional poker player, sponsored Unibet Pro and co-host of The Chip Race Podcast. He is regarded as one of the best satellite grinders in the world and professional poker players seek out his advice on ICM whenever they prepare for a big final table. He is the co-author of the best selling books Poker Satellite Strategy and PKO Poker Strategy.“In an era of solvers and preflop charts, game states involving ICM pressure remain one of the few unsolved and untapped areas of poker. Endgame Poker Strategy does an excellent job of clearly explaining the most important ICM ideas and effects. Whether you are a beginning player looking to build an understanding of how ICM works, or a more advanced player looking to better internalise ICM concepts, there is something in this book for you.” - Daniel Dvoress, high stakes poker player
The Independent Chip Model (ICM) is the most important strategy concept in multi table tournaments, yet very few players understand it, other than knowing they should play tighter on the bubble. Not only does ICM impact the single biggest monetary decisions you make in poker, it also influences everything in a tournament from game selection, staking, when to register, playing the early levels, the bubble, the final table and much more.
Endgame Poker Strategy is the first book to take a deep dive into the subject of ICM and how it impacts how you should play in tournaments. This book contains groundbreaking insights that most professional poker players are not aware of,
• How to adjust your play in the late stages of tournaments
• When to ladder and when to play for the win
• How to negotiate profitable final table deals
• The optimal game selection, rebuy and late registration strategies
• How to play short, average and big stacks at the end of tournaments
Dara O’Kearney is a professional poker player, sponsored Unibet Pro and co-host of The Chip Race Podcast. He is regarded as one of the best satellite grinders in the world and professional poker players seek out his advice on ICM whenever they prepare for a big final table. He is the co-author of the best selling books Poker Satellite Strategy and PKO Poker Strategy.“In an era of solvers and preflop charts, game states involving ICM pressure remain one of the few unsolved and untapped areas of poker. Endgame Poker Strategy does an excellent job of clearly explaining the most important ICM ideas and effects. Whether you are a beginning player looking to build an understanding of how ICM works, or a more advanced player looking to better internalise ICM concepts, there is something in this book for you.” - Daniel Dvoress, high stakes poker player
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2021
42 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 15, 2021
Just a bit of background, i'm primarily a recreational player who finds playing poker or studying poker very interesting.
Having said that, i probably study a lot more about poker than i play. I've studied quite a number of poker courses, RYE Tournament Masterclass, From The Ground Up Cash and MTT, Bluff the Spot etc etc, as well as quite a few poker books, Harrington, etc etc
Make no mistake, the courses above provide a lot of value, as for the poker books, they are just abit outdated.
However, when it came to this book, in terms of time spent, there is nothing better better/more efficient.
The author uses solvers/icmizers to derive first principles, he clearly explains the first principles and its logic, how icm affects the game at different stages, and provide the essential examples.
For most poker players, who do not intend to go professional, or spend more than 12 hours a day playing/studying poker, this is probably the most important thing.
And for professionals, the first principles he provided will cover 80% of all you need to know (which should reduce big leaks and turn you from a big losing player, to a marginally losing / break-even / profitable player depending on stakes, and how well you apply the content), and provide you a clear path to study the remaining 20% needed to crush the games.
And all this for 10 dollars, most poker courses charge easily more than 500-1k dollars.
Having said that, i probably study a lot more about poker than i play. I've studied quite a number of poker courses, RYE Tournament Masterclass, From The Ground Up Cash and MTT, Bluff the Spot etc etc, as well as quite a few poker books, Harrington, etc etc
Make no mistake, the courses above provide a lot of value, as for the poker books, they are just abit outdated.
However, when it came to this book, in terms of time spent, there is nothing better better/more efficient.
The author uses solvers/icmizers to derive first principles, he clearly explains the first principles and its logic, how icm affects the game at different stages, and provide the essential examples.
For most poker players, who do not intend to go professional, or spend more than 12 hours a day playing/studying poker, this is probably the most important thing.
And for professionals, the first principles he provided will cover 80% of all you need to know (which should reduce big leaks and turn you from a big losing player, to a marginally losing / break-even / profitable player depending on stakes, and how well you apply the content), and provide you a clear path to study the remaining 20% needed to crush the games.
And all this for 10 dollars, most poker courses charge easily more than 500-1k dollars.
December 6, 2021
Another great book by Dara and Barry. They have the virtue of selecting subjects that haven't been written yet and poker players should be grateful por that.
It's the first book on ICM and the authors have done a great work explaining the subjects with lots of hand examples that help to understand the topics.
One of the best poker books from 2021 for sure. Hoping to read more by Dara and Barry.
It's the first book on ICM and the authors have done a great work explaining the subjects with lots of hand examples that help to understand the topics.
One of the best poker books from 2021 for sure. Hoping to read more by Dara and Barry.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews