The bubble!

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renandjohn

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What hands to play and what to avoid when in the bubble? I tend to tighten up quite a bit to try and ensure I'm in the money. This sometimes means I'm short stacked after making in to the money as a consequence. What are your thoughts and what hands do you stop playing in the bubble?
 
rokkito

rokkito

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There’s short, and then there’s SHORT! When you first get below 4-5M, you may have a little more time to be selective than say a 1-3M stack. You’re looking for pretty strong hands to push with when in the 4-5M range, but more importantly, you should be thinking about fold equity and position. You want to be the first to open the pot, and look for stronger hands in early position than late position. At this point, you have enough chips to not expect a call, but you still want to push with hands that aren’t easily dominated. I’d rather go with suited connectors than a weak ace, because if I do get called, it will likely be a stronger ace.
 
thetick33

thetick33

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too wide open of a question but if your finding yourself bubbling often you need to read the table if you had cred and develop cred you need to bluff at some pots or semi bluff. Going all in might not be best way I establish cred by that point and sometimes with position a simple double bet or blind is enough. You got to know your table mates etc.. I make moves when I can. I steal here and there and dont bluff often personally but sometimes you need some blinds plain and simple.

So what im saying is not tightening up so much or changing hands I play. I really if playing well believe my hands will come and im comfortable coming from behind on people or playing with low stack. As said though if know my table I make some moves to keep in the race. Especially if we are close to bubble.
 
ScottieDuncan

ScottieDuncan

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Calls for a variety of playing. Don't play tight all the time. u have to keep the remaining players off guard.
 
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Tosh_67

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I try to maintain my stack by attacking the blinds when in position...
 
edc1

edc1

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around the bubble the blinds are decent sized i normaly wont wait long to get dealt a premium hand-suited connectors-pairs small and big-i also think its important to play position at this point in game -the bubble is tough if yer shortied it becomes a shove fest at times-i would forget about bluffing but still make a move on a smaller stack around bubble alot of players play nit poker around bubble-some players go agro-depends alot on table dynamics what cards il play and when-stack size is a big factor as well -im not going to make a move on the chip leader without having a hand to do it
 
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jjpregler

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In poker playing opposite the "crowd" is usually going to be the most rewarding. On the bubble, the average amateur player is just trying to "fold" into the money. It is highly profitable to open your steal range during this stage of play.
 
SorinNeamtul

SorinNeamtul

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Calls for a variety of playing. Don't play tight all the time. u have to keep the remaining players off guard.
Yes, You need to play the acceptable hands at the right moment.
 
gardin555

gardin555

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try to play good hands aggressively, know the players and try to take advantage of that, press the weak and those with less or equal stack like u.
 
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Sidetracked

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Most people try to tighten up and make sure they're in the money. It's actually a good time to loosen up your stealing range and start stacking away blinds and antes.
 
7svetoslav

7svetoslav

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This stage has to be played, according on your stacks and position, not that much about the preflop choice of playing cards.
Everyone will be agreed that you have to stay tight till the prize places, but in some situations you have to take a different choices.

Example:
You are middle stack, just from this information you have to know that playing versus big stacks is a big mistake in the most of situations. You have to hunt the exhausted players, small stacks and holding the place at all price!
Stealing the blinds is good too, ive read about it, but do it rarely. That is good when you are the big stack, the idea is to steal the blinds with all in or huge raise, cause the blinds are big at this stage of the tournament. Its risky, but alot of players are playing that way, probably cause the small stacks are protecting their chips till the bubble ends.
At all, the specific situation, have to be played by specific way. You just have to learn, practice and will be easy to know what is the better choice.
 
thetick33

thetick33

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I will say my game is evolving cause im playing more trying new things. When its close to the bubble if you have established a good rep then you can steal a lot. Also im of a mindset if I go out and im making the move or the right move its ok. Just my two cents if I am directing the symphony and I lose thats much better to me then letting the cards decide my fate or blinding down.
 
VictorOd

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Some people recommend to fold rockets on the bubble, but I never do that.
 
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Birdman33

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It all depends on your chip stack. If your short and move all in you should expect a call from the bb with any 2 cards. If you have a nice chip stack you can wait for the premium hands or steal a few blinds.
 
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chronical

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I ussualy go uber tight or uber aggro.
It's the best time to steal
 
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