The Bubble

I've played 1000s of tourneys and got through the bubble 1000's of times but I just lost about 7 bubbles in a row. One particular epic 30mins on poker stars where I went from massive chip leader to loser. 3 of us played tight as, one guy with the shortest stack was the only aggressor. I got him all in several times and doubled him up AT v AK for example.
I've read the theory, "be aggro" but I cant do it, I'm too tentative. Sure I can shove and steal the blinds occasionally but not as a tactic. Everything I read says the same thing. Someone please say something to make me feel better and if you can offer a solid strategy that you swear blind works I will be very grateful.
Thanks muchly

Being aggressive nearing and on the bubble doesn't mean going wild and betting at every opportunity no matter how uncomfortable it makes you. It's basically about raising your aggression level compared to how you usually play because certain opponents tighten up and become more likely to fold. Those are the preferred targets. Of course, it's up to you to identify which ones they are.

The theory "be aggressive on the bubble" is only for the big stack, who can afford it, because he has chips, right ?

Not really. For example, depending on your stack, you can also look for opportunities to re-steal against big stacks who are now opening wider than before.

If you had a massive chip lead you shouldn't have done anything unless you got pocket aces or kings...why risk a big chip lead when you dont need to lol, just sit back and watch the shortstacked battle it out for a while.....guaranteed to cash if you tighten up while in front...

alyoung said:

If you had a massive chip lead you shouldn't have done anything unless you got pocket aces or kings...why risk a big chip lead when you dont need to lol, just sit back and watch the shortstacked battle it out for a while.....guaranteed to cash if you tighten up while in front...

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Wouldn't recommend this. It's a great time for a big stack to bully the rest of the table and build on your chip lead. Cashing is not the goal, we want to win.

@bluffyou123 yeah cool, point taken, but would you not want to finish in the money first then attack to win?

You won't have to put yourself at risk, just pick on the folders and back off if a nit fires back at you. Even if you don't have a big stack, it's a good time to get aggressive and shove over late position raisers as they will be opening wide.

alyoung said:

@bluffyou123 yeah cool, point taken, but would you not want to finish in the money first then attack to win?

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No, at least not with the typical payout table, which is very top-heavy. This means you make more money by cashing *somewhat* less often provided you go deep somewhat more often. The times that the chips you gain by being aggressive help you go deeper than you would have if you'd tightened up to ensure cashing more than make up for the times you could have folded into the money but didn't.

Part of the issue that doesn't get mentioned very often is this. Ramping up your aggression approaching the bubble and pay jumps is good strategy. So in general, the players who know this and do it are better players than the ones who don't. So if you tighten up in order to cash, not only are you giving up the chance to gain chips from the players who are tightening up, but those chips are mostly going into the stacks of the better opponents. Does letting the good opponents build their stacks while you give away bits of yours sound like a great strategy for winning?

good points guys interesting read....thanks, i will debate with ya all when i learn some more lol

Try reading up about ICM - Independent Chip Model.

From what I have read Sit'ngo play is all about learning good shove & fold game in the late stages. Knowing when and where to pick spots.
an example might be in game you mentioned where you were the biggest stack and there was one short stack on the table. Pick on the other two stacks while leaving the short one still there because the other two will likely fold unless they have a very strong holding due to ICM and bubble. The shortstack might will be more willing to get it allin but depends on how short they are.

Collin Moshmann's Sit'nGo Strategy books is an excellent read. I just started out but was told to be sure to read this book. I think it is helping me alot. I didn't have to pay for it but I think it would be worth buying.

MadMaddie said:

Try reading up about ICM - Independent Chip Model.

From what I have read Sit'ngo play is all about learning good shove & fold game in the late stages. Knowing when and where to pick spots.
an example might be in game you mentioned where you were the biggest stack and there was one short stack on the table. Pick on the other two stacks while leaving the short one still there because the other two will likely fold unless they have a very strong holding due to ICM and bubble. The shortstack might will be more willing to get it allin but depends on how short they are.

Collin Moshmann's Sit'nGo Strategy books is an excellent read. I just started out but was told to be sure to read this book. I think it is helping me alot. I didn't have to pay for it but I think it would be worth buying.

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Thanks, I'll have a look. I feel like my game is almost there, just need a %10 increase in my ITM stats then I can move up a buy-in level

continue to bet wit good preflop hands. occasionally steal blinds. dont be afraid to go after the bigger stacks aswell as the smaller stacks just dont go crazy most smaller stacks will raise or shove all in wit a wide range of hands. conserve your chips and play hands that can net profit. bubble bursts your ITM.

MadMaddie said:

Try reading up about ICM - Independent Chip Model.

From what I have read Sit'ngo play is all about learning good shove & fold game in the late stages. Knowing when and where to pick spots.
an example might be in game you mentioned where you were the biggest stack and there was one short stack on the table. Pick on the other two stacks while leaving the short one still there because the other two will likely fold unless they have a very strong holding due to ICM and bubble. The shortstack might will be more willing to get it allin but depends on how short they are.

Collin Moshmann's Sit'nGo Strategy books is an excellent read. I just started out but was told to be sure to read this book. I think it is helping me alot. I didn't have to pay for it but I think it would be worth buying.

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This book arrived today, already pleased with the few pages I have read. Thanks for the advice

Caesura said:

Thanks, I'll have a look. I feel like my game is almost there, just need a %10 increase in my ITM stats then I can move up a buy-in level

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ROI is more important than ITM because how much you win is more important than how often you cash.

Plus there's the matter of BRM and accumulating enough buyins to move up. Note that you can take shots before this, which lets you get a feel for the play at the level you're aiming to move up to. My usual suggestion is to win a couple of buyins by playing at your current level. For example, if you're playing 1.10 and your roll is $25, you're not rolled to play 2.20. What you can do is get your roll up to $29.40, then use the 4.40 for a 2-buyin shot at 2.20. And if you happen to lose it, your roll is still at $25, right where it was before you started this little shot-taking process.

Cheers, my BRM is the most solid part of my game. I've made a bit more than $25 in the last 3months at $1 and 60c games but it's not consistent enough winnings, or doesn't feel like it anyway. At the moment I need another $12 then I will take my shot at the next level. No other reason than I set myself a target of $x to reach before I moved up.

Aggression on the bubble is meaningless if the other opponents are aggresive as well. Aggression works when the action shuts down among the bubble players trying to cash. The size of the field left after the bubble is also important. The more players left, the less aggression generally works.