Final table

The last table of a tournament, where the biggest prizes are decided.

Last updated October 16, 2026

What it means: The final table is the one table left when a tournament is down to its last players, usually 9, or 8 or 6 in shorter-handed events. Every player there has cashed, and each bust from here on moves everyone else up a pay step.
How it is calculated: The jumps between places are largest at the final table, so chips are worth less than their face value and losing them costs more than winning the same amount gains. ICM measures this. Short stacks are pushed to tighten up while a big stack can raise often, because the others have more to lose by calling.
Worked example: Nine players are left; ninth pays 2,000 and first pays 40,000. You have 10 big blinds and two players have under 5. Folding a hand you would shove in the middle of the event can win you a pay step when one of them busts first.
Why it matters: Mistakes at the final table cost the most money in the event. Learning how ICM changes calling and shoving ranges is how to avoid the costliest of them.