Playing no limit once you're in the money.......

hey you guys i've been struggling every time i get to the money in no-limit.... does anyone have any pointers that might help out i've tried different ways but can't seem to make it.........

as soon as the bubble breaks tighten up a bit, I have found there is ALOT of LAGGY play right after, then settle back into a solid TAG play, when a few pots here or there and watch as the field demolishes itself. when it gets down to 2 tables or so blind stealing is your best weapon. Use it wisely

Alot of people play slow right before the money just hoping to place. This is a good time to do the opposite and steal alot of blinds/pots. Then as soon as you make the money, do like mentioned and tighten up. People have been wanting to play but waiting, and usually play kinda crazy after that.

I know that after playing a tourney long enough to almost make the money, the last thing I'm thinking about is coasting to get little more than my buy in back. I steal left and right, and if I get knocked out on the bubble so be it. Its a waste to not pad your stack when the blinds are big, and nobody is playing. Just pay attention to how many people are left because everyone else is, and they change into animals in 1 hands difference.

Depends where you are as far as your chip stack is concerned.

If your doing quite well (say M=40+) now is a good time to knock out a few people who were clinging to the thought of making the money, sit back wait for your hands and be aggresive to the smaller stacks on the table, chances are they'll donk their chips off to you and be happy with double the buy-in.

If your around average (M = 15-30) you should tighten up and make yourself scarce while the short stacks take their shots and the big stacks bully the table a little, when things calm down a little you'll be seen as tight then you have the chance to loosen up a little as the table will respect your bets.

And if your getting low (M=10) there's no point being completly desperate you still have enough chips for a few orbits, but you are looking to play your strong hands super aggresive and trying to keep your hands out of the cheap multi way pots as you will bleed what little chips you have left all over the table playing in these hands with your chipstack.

Of course all three of the above are a guide and in the perfect world would be law (i guess .).

I say play to the table, if everyones as tight as a fishes butt and your short stacked, take pot shots, if you've got alot of chips and your card-dead or the middle stacks are playing loose just sit on your chips, meh .

you shouldnt be playing to make the money because you dont make that much anyway, you should abuse the bubble cause thats where every tightens up, dead money imo

thanks for all the advice you guys......... i took a break from poker and now im playing daily but i havent made a final table yet....... thanks for all your comments.........

I actually disagree with your opinion. No offense. But i think once the bubble is busted thats when you start to be AGGRESSIVE. Other people are going to start playing tighter and tighter because everyone wants to hear that theyve made the Final Table!!! So take advantage of that and be the aggressor!! Hope ive been of help!