A Little bit of ICM
Understanding Independent Chip Model (ICM) is critical when strategizing at a final table, especially when you’re a short stack. By accounting for ICM, players can determine their equity based on their chip stack, their opponents’ stacks, and the payout structure. This is exactly what Jonathan Little focused on during the $25K PokerGo Cup, where the ICM implications were especially significant.
In an interview with PokerOrg, Little shared his perspective on ICM from the viewpoint of a player with a short stack at the table. He explained:
“Justin Zaki had the big stack, and I was on his direct left. That’s precisely the position you want to be in, because when he folded, I essentially got to act as the big stack. That was mainly because John Riordan, on my left, wasn’t playing too aggressively when I would raise.”
Little went on to discuss the importance of aggressive play against smaller and medium stacks, as these players often have to fold even normally playable hands due to ICM. “It can be quite costly if your opponents do not account for ICM and play as if they do,” he added. This is particularly true when considering big bluffs, where ICM could play a crucial role in determining the success of the move.
Watch Out! Little’s Back
After a period away from the live poker circuit, many fans of Jonathan Little were wondering where he had gone. But now, he’s back in full force. Little claimed the 2024 PokerGo Cup Championship title after winning the $25K final event and the $10K event in the series, bringing his total earnings to over $760,000.
Little clarified that his break was to focus on his family, as his children are now older and he can travel more. “I plan to play most of the PokerGo series and other tournaments that provide high-value and nice environments. But my favorite thing to do is to teach,” he said. His passion for teaching poker has grown as his training site, PokerCoaching.com, has developed into a valuable resource for players seeking to improve.
Twitter/X Skirmishes
In addition to his poker skills, Jonathan Little has become a staple in poker Twitter/X debates. Whether it’s a clash between Matt Berkey and Daniel Negreanu over one of his tweets or his involvement in some playful banter with Nick Schulman, Little seems to stay calm and unfazed amidst the chaos.
Little summed up his approach to social media: “If you want to get in there and fight, you can. My social media presence is essentially trying to add value to people who want to learn from me. I discuss entirely poker. Let’s get real. Just because I’m good at poker doesn’t mean my thoughts about other things are relevant.”
Welcome back to the scene, Jonathan – and it seems like you’re better than ever!
