Playing The Bubble

[juiCe[3x]]

One part of tournament play that I seem to really struggle at is playing "The Bubble". Usually people tighten up when the bubble comes and I'm ussually one of them. If I have a medium/small stack I will tighten up and when I have a big stack I don't change at all, which got me to think that I am missing out on some chips.

What I would like to know is some strategys on how to pick up more pots. I know you have to play more hands and raise with more hands , but how should I loosen up? Should I raise with say, KJo if I know the people behind me are playing tight and trying to cash. The same with small pocket pairs. I know this has alot to do with position but say you have a really tight table going into the bubble, would you start to raise alot of hands and steal the blinds and antes?

[Zybomb]

Yes you should absolutely raise 4 handed with KJo small pairs etc as the big stack.... what r u doing currently? Limping in?

[juiCe[3x]]

No, I mean in MTTs. Not in SNGs. In SNGs i raise with it , i dont really have a problem in SNGs but in MTT Bubbles i have troubles when the tables are 7-8 handed still.

[Penguinfan]

Actually if you are in later position and KNOW they are trying to make the money then you should raise with ANY TWO CARDS. They will fold hands as big as AQ or 99 in most cases.

If this is a typical on-line tourney then the bubble usually starts just into the third hour of play, mid-way through the second hour you should be building your stack by stealing liberally, this is very dependant on stack sizes, pevious play of the people behind you and POSITION at the table. Building your stack before the bubble is inportant, just like building it during the final three tables is if you hope to go to the final table with a chance at winning it all.

[juiCe[3x]]

So, if I know that the people behind me are playing very tight I can raise with any two hands hoping they don't have a big pocket pair or a big hand like AK? Also would you just raise the standard 3-4x the BB to steal it?

[BrianSwa]

you dont want to be raising all in and doubleing them up, you need to be able to fold if they come over the top. You want to raise the same amount that you would raise with a big hand or it looks like a steal. You should be raising the same amount you would raise with hands like AA, you also have to mix up your game you dont want someone to be able to read your bets to a "T". You dont want them to be like hey this guy only raises this much with premiem hands you want them to wonder what you have.

If they think you are stealing then they will come over the top of you with any 2 for the same reason you are raising with any 2. Now if you raised the same amount with premiem then you would re-raise their re-raise and force them to fold unless they actully have a decent hand then you can bust them.

There are also alot of bubble times where I dont want to eliminate people, like take this for instance its bubble time 19 people left 18 cash and a short stack pushes all in and im sitting in Big Blind with very good hand. There are times where im folding here, if I notice the table is very tight and I feel I can extract more chips from them while they are playing tight I will fold that hand. I want to get to final table with alot of chips and position myself to win it.


I know I said I wasnt posting but wanted to post this.

[PShabi]

Oh brother. Change your screen name to "Flip Flop."

[Boobie Lover]

And while we're at it, can we change eejit101 to dipshit#1?

[PShabi]

Frick & Frack?

SWA was the first dipshit, lest we forget.

[BrianSwa]

I know I know but reading this post I thought I could answer it pretty well so thought I would chime in.