I know how SnG's are basically a science and how there are charts to follow. I never really considered putting too much thought into that though, b/c I have always been at levels where I'm already doing quite well. Even though I'm currently only playing freeroll SNGs at Merge, I want to find ways to improve my game.

I guess the best way to show what I'm talking about is an example (but the example isn't important, I just want to know how to analyze hands later):



So to determine if it's correct to shove a flop (or at least one where the only betting option is a shove) I assigned hand ranges that villains would have on the flop and then of that, ones that would call a shove.



I then just basically did a Punnett square or "FOIL" or whatever you want to call it to find the % of the time I get Fold-Fold, Call-Fold, Fold-Call, and Call-Call and stoved my hand against the ranges in each case to find out equity.



The thing is it's really easy (though somewhat time consuming) to plug the numbers in and calculate EV. But I know it varies a lot when figuring in ICM. But I haven't played around with it enough to know how to figure it in. Is there a quick math trick to know? or good summary article/thread to read? Or is there just some software I need to download? Thanks for making it this far .

tl;dr (cuz it definitely needs one). How do you pencil and paper (and Stove) calculations of EV decisions in SnGs to keep ICM in mind?

Use an icm calc to figure out how much equity you gain or lose with all possible outcomes of each decision. Then put opponents on ranges and figure out how often theyll call your shove, and how often youll win when called vs their calling range.

The best thing to do is to get good at estimating icm tax (ratio between how much winning chips helps you to how much losing those same chips helps you) and then just putting people on ranges and doing the math in your head.

I mean that's pretty much what I was asking, but do I just google ICM calculator? Is there a particular one most use? I understand the concept of ICM tax, but I don't know details because I haven't seen it applied. How would I go about calculating it? I've done a little search around, but haven't found anything tangible enough that I can actually apply on my own to situations and number crunching.

Somebody on 2+2 made a program called "prizepoolequity". You should find it through a search or google. Then you can enter the stacksizes and the payout distribution and it shows the ICM Factors. Or you use a ICM calculator and do this stuff on your own but it takes much more time than with this program.