ICM (Independent Chip Model) pressure describes how in tournaments, survival carries independent value beyond chip counts, creating asymmetry between gaining and losing chips. When short stacks are in jeopardy or players are near the money, ICM pressure forces medium and large stacks to fold situations that would be immediate calls in cash games. ICM pressure is maximal at bubbles (money bubble and final table bubbles), where an elimination can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars in prize EV. Large stack players should exploit the ICM pressure of medium stacks who cannot risk their chips as freely.