Are ICM Calculations Necessary?

[pokerYah!]

I've just moved up to the 30$ SnGs on stars and was considering investing in some software that does ICM calculations. There is the classic SnG Power Tools and some new software: sngwiz () and icm toolkit (). I was just curious how many people used these and how helpful they thought they were.

Thanks

[EscapePlan9]

[MTPaid]

[EscapePlan9]

There still are a few fish on almost every level, even the $109s (at least 1 or 2). In the bigger stakes ones you have to take more risks early on to accumulate big stacks. Then your profit comes not only from your understanding of common pushing/calling situations, but you have to adjust the ranges significantly. You end up playing the player a lot more. If you know that he can be shoving 100% from that position, it becomes profitable to call with K5o. But if he knows that he might lower his shoving range to account for your increased calling range. High stakes SNGs ($100+) are extremely variant and a good long term winning ROI in those is around 7%.

The common advice is if you've donked away with SNGs and been a long-term winner all the way up to the $55s, you either stay there, drop a level lower for less variance, or no longer concentrate on SNGs and turn to cash games or MTTs.

This ESPECIALLY applies with turbos but regulars as well. There are a couple sites where you start with bigger stacks than usual and the blind levels are extended, so those require a slightly different approach that will benefit the better players and you can afford a lot more early game risks. I personally don't play them because how painfully long they take for little reward.

[EscapePlan9]

[MTPaid]

[hard2tel]

[KJo]

Ok, I must be blind and dumb. I play tons of $100 SNGs and have never even heard of ICM. That's first on my list.

Second- there's a Pokertracker for SNGs now? Where is it? Not on their site.

Eli

[DonkiFornication]

[MTPaid]

[pokerYah!]

Hey guys,
It's been a little while since I posted, but I thought I'd give everyone an update. BTW I saw sheets' videos (the SnG Lecture Series) and ICMs are sooo necessary for SnG players. I ended up buying fFor $30... I don't see how anyone can justify not buying it (even at the $5.50 buyins)...

Anyway, since I've invested in an icm calculator, my results have been spectacular. This is largely because I feel more confident on the bubble and am able to make some counter intuitive plays that seem wierd, but are defiantely +EV.

Heres a link to picture of an ICM Toolkit calculation (compare this to SNGPT or SnGWiz!):

Hope this help!

[EscapePlan9]

Haven't heard of that one, but looks just as good, and much cheaper! I cannot recommend these tools enough for serious SNG players.

[emmasdad]

It also advertises Dynamic Prize Pool Calculations for multi-table tournaments.

Trip report please.