The bubble to the money and final tables

I have been placing much better in tourneys lately and find that the bubbles for the money and then later for the final table to be troublesome. Floating in seems to be a great way to get bumped out. But then again playing agressive is dangerous to. What is the winning theory to get over the bubble??

This has probably been discussed before but I am having a heck of a time getting search to work for me.

you need to play kinda tight when on the bubble but dont play so tight that you are tossing away hands that could help you greatly when on the bubble alot of people will just bet cause they know you will be to scared to call in fear of going out before the money

Personally, I let my stack size and table conditions dictate bubble play. If I've got a big stack, I tend to get really aggressive and will raise nearly any 2 cards when I'm in late position (depending on the table I will open this up to middle positions too) and it's folded around to me. With a small stack I tighten up quite a bit, but If I'm playing a hand it's all going in the middle. If I'm somewhere in the mid-stack range I just play my normal game, keeping in mind that some players are going to get overaggresive with mediocre hands. Generally once you get down to the final 3 there seems to be another bubble with the two shorter stacks trying to outlast each other for 2nd (and a substantial $$ increase), when that happens I'll raise nearly every hand but also be willing to lay down weaker hands to big raises or reraises. Just my $.02.

I usually tighten up quit a bit with a average or small stack and I try not to put my whole stack in preflop because it semm like the flop always favors the bigger stack in a bubble situation. Could just be a coincidence but it seems to happen more often than not.

You guys are playing it wrong. In general, your opponents with medium sized stacks will be looking to get into the money. However, tournaments usually pay much much more for making the final table. Therefore, your goal around the bubble should be to steal chips from players who are hoping to just sneak into the money with a medium sized stack. Around the bubble is the perfect time to add to your chipstack & set yourself up to make a run for the final table.

But be warned, that once the bubble breaks, everyone will go nuts, since now they're guaranteed money. You should then limit your steal attempts after the bubble breaks and you are once again in the money.

Take advantage of the bubble !
This is the time to get aggressive and accumalate some ships for the long battle towards the final table, the rest of your opponents will no doubt tighten up and you have to take advantage of them. Obviously if your a short stack you cant really use this very well. It works especially well if you have had a tight table image throughout the tournament. Exploit your opponents and start to build a nice size stack on the bubble.

It depends on your chip stack relative to that of the others at the table. If you are the big stack, take advantage of the other short stacks who just want to get into the money. If you are short, I would try to just get into the money.

only knew what is was like to get that far in a tournament...

It's really depend how much chips you have, if you sitting with short stack you can't bubble that well.

Thanks for the reply's. It is becoming more apparent to me that the bubble is a good time to steal but be mindful of position. Keep the action in front of me. The multitable Sngs are turning into a good tool for the bubble play to get the feel for when to push.

I fold my way into the money if i got a shortstack, but if I'm a bigstack I tend to raise people out a lot cause they's scared.

yesterday i was the chipleader on my table with 450.000 the second guy with more chip had 185.000 , so i played very agressive that moment but if i am shortstacked the unique thing that you can do is FOLD

Play aggreesive with a big stack super tight when short. AA or KK allin regardless

I find when i make it to the bubble in a mtt i usually do quite well.
I dont know why.
my play usually depends on my chip stack.
once the bubble is popped i seem to do even better,a good part of the time making the final table.
if i have lots of chips on the bubble i'll tighten up to almost not playing anything till the bubble pops.
if i have below chips ave.i still play tight and just try to protect my blinds till the bubble pops.
When im itm with chips i usually bully the short stacks with them.
when im itm with below ave. chips i protect my blinds tighten up and wait for the others to knock as many ppl out without me getting mixed up in to many pots.
The tourney usually picks up past pretty fast after the bubble pops.

you need to remember your answer to a question you should have asked yourself before begining the tournament. the question being : Am I entering this tournament to make the money? or am I entering this tournament to make the final table and win? (this should be your answer) However you answered the initial question it should have gave you a strategy to make your goal. If your near the bubble your stategy has worked so far so stick to it.

Looks like there are many answers to this question. Maybe a Zen kind of thing. LOL and thanks again for your input.