Getting to final tables

I need help reaching final tables (who doesn't right?)

I'm talking MTT Freezeout's--where in general I play very solid passive/aggressive poker. My problem is as the bubble nears...I'm generally averaged stacked, with not enough to cover the blinds to carry me too much further. As we "hit the money" I would consider myself short stacked typically against the rest of the field. So I'm almost forcing myself to go ALL IN just to try and build my stack. I think my best finish is like 75 out of 2000 people. I mean, I doubled my entry fee....but that's hardly worth 3-4 hours of my time. What strategies do you succesful tourny players emply during the middle part to solidify your stack to give you that edge for the big payouts?

A common problem for sure

I find playing playing aggressive in the 2nd hour normally sets you up in a better position (or busts you out ). (if you are playing 15mins blinds)

Generally in the 2nd hour a lot of loose players have already busted out so you can get away with a bit more. (ie pull a few moves)

What is important is coming to terms with the fact that just getting to the money will lead to a negative return in the long run (ie losing money).

If you just make it to the money 25% of time then as the payouts are barely more than the buy-in then it is pointless. Better to have a 10% ITM and make more final tables and more 1st/2nd/3rds.


Welly

so basically, you're saying it's worth not trying to make it to the money...but worth trying to WIN it?

if that's true...then I know what I need to do then and not be so cautious

Yep

Difficult to describe a winning route in a few paragraphs. If I get a chance i'll edit some tourney text files and PM them to you. I'll try to highlight some key "moves" on the path.

And remember no tourney is ever won without a bit of luck here and there.

In the meantime, practice makes perfect

I found that playing tight as possible usually works the best in these MTT(for me anyhow)super tight/aggressive then if you can happen to be chip leader at the table your sitting at try to bully every now and then.....not constantly because eventually you will get called.I played in 2 of the MTT tourneys on pokerstars thursday,the entry was 2+.20 there were about 1200 entries in both.The first one I just missed the final table and finished 11th..won 18.64.......the second I made the final table but finished 9th won 32.09.
I just try to play aggressive with monster hands...AA,KK,QQ.I try to see the blinds with any two face cards but will not usually call blind all-in bets unless I can cover it.The main thing about MTTs is survival so dont pay extra chips to see the flop with mediocore cards.I usually only see around 15-20% of the flops.

beginning of the tourney, play your monsters (AA/KK) very aggressive. i see a lot of players calling 15x bb raises (from 10 -> 150 raise) with pure trash, so raising that much helps to limit the amount of callers and lets you isolate 1/2 people. play very tight and play your hands aggressively. don't get caught trying something fancy early.

add on.

2nd half, as blinds increase, you should find yourself stealing more and making more moves dependant on shortstacks and players youve noticed are playing too tight (as you have been). youre looking to either dominate by the time the FT rolls around (top 5 around bubble time) or bust out. like welly said, just 'making it in the money' is -EV in the long run. you're looking for top 3 if at all possible.

when the FT finally hits, you treat it like a SNG. let a few short stacks do their stupid any-two all in thing, as the field narrows start loosening up again and take control of the table.

-ev time wise it is, but if you are making it in the bubble every tourney how can making a profit even a small profit be - if you are constantly making it inside the bubble.

Agreed the goal is to win and the bubble whoope de do da dang you doubled your buy-in or the $1.00 or less. No you aren't out to make bubble cause winning measly amounts will not change your life(the will eventually if you just enjoy playing and winning small amounts all the time), the bigger amounts do though.

if you made it every time it wouldn't be a problem. making double your buyin back 25% of the time (meaning it's a -25% ev move just by doubling your buyin at an average %itm rate) vs making a few hundred times your buyin 5% of the time & just getting in the money 10% of the time due to the added aggressiveness is what i'm talking about.