1. Introduction

The push-or-fold-stage of a tournament is probably the most complex stage. When to go all-in, when to fold? Sooner or later you will be inevitably forced to take the time to look into the mathematical backgrounds of this stage: the Independent Chip Model (ICM). In order to make this easier our software cracks programmed the ICM-Trainer, which will help give you a feeling for correct decisions.

Yet it is also obvious, that you will feel a bit disoriented in the face of such a complex subject as the ICM and that a more concrete guidelines would be helpful. This is why our SNG-experts developed four charts in collaboration with Florian "Morgoth" Langmann, the German Champion 2006. These charts will help you decide, whether you want to go all-in with your hand or not.

At lower limits, especially as a beginner, these charts will give you an edge against typical opponents. But in the longterm they can't replace actually learning about ICM and the theory behind it.

The four charts distinguish four situations:

• Nobody is involved in the hand yet. You will use the push-chart.
• There are already players in the hand, it is not important how they were involved. Now you use our three rebound-charts, which differentiate between your possible positions.

Here you can find the charts as a PDF-document, in order to download and print them:

PokerStrategy Push or Fold Charts