Bubbles

Occasionally, I get on a bubble, usually 3-4 people left in a SNG and I'm big stack or something like that. Couple strategy questions I have about it:

1. Should I even try to get on a bubble in big stack? My general play is pretty conservative, so I sort of consider doing a bubble as letting my aggressive side go a bit, but do I risk too much by going on bubble?

2. Is there a way to "burst" the bubble yourself? I have trouble finding a stopping point and getting back into my usual play, usually it just happens after a loss in an important hand.

Thanks!

If you're the big stack, you should be playing more agrressive, not conservative. Satrting raising preflop on marginal hands you don't normally raise with.

first of all, i'm not sure that you understand the term "bubble". the bubble is the point in the tournament right before the money, usually just one or two places away. at this point a lot of people start playing really tight so they make the money. either way, when this happens, you should take the opportunity to steal the blinds, especially when you are the big stack. put the pressure on them, and if you get the chance, take them out! since you've been playing aggressive already, this strategy should work fine for you.

Thanks for the clairification. I totally screwed up the definition of bubble, but still got some good advice.

i think this tip from "Jesus" explains how playing the bubble should be any different than any part of a tournament
http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/pro-tip/ChrisFerguson/14

If you're a conservative player, that's fine. On the bubble, you should be a bit more aggressive, purely for the reason that you will have to change gears at some point anyway, and the bubble is where aggression is most likely to be successful, especially if you already have a conservative image. That being said, don't go crazy. Change gears a bit, but if you're the best player you can be when you play conservatively, then play conservatively.

Don't bluff too much either, play aggressive, not loose. IMO there's a fine line between the two and my problem is slipping into loose play and screwing myself over.

Thanks for the info on bubbling plus the link..i used it to access the pro tips archive and spent quite reading..thanks
Dont really have any advice that hasnt already been said

Good luck @ the tables

Here is my take on bubble play:
At the beginning of an SnG I try to figure out the playing styles of the two people on my immediate left. You need to figure out if you can steal from them during bubble/high blind play.

I also try to figure out the playing styles of the two people on my right because during bubble/high blind play I have to know if they are capable of stealing or making a move on me.

You need to figure out what type of players you are dealing with as earliest as possible. If you wait until bubble/high blind play, it's going to be really difficult.

There is not clear cut answer to this, I'd love to hear what other people are doing.

if i'm big stack in a sng during bubble, I put out as little chips as i can and only try to take out other players if it's post flop and i've got the hand with no doubt. in other words i play very tight. i let another big stack steal blinds. sooner or later, usually sooner, a shortstack will get antsy and impatient and when that happens they'll usually go all-in and lose their chips or double up. either way, by that time, or a short time later, atleast one person(short or big stack doesn't matter) gets loose. and then i strike asap.
there's more to it, but that's a good enough description.

LizzyJ, that's good advice but what happens if these players change their gears. I would love it if everyone to my immediate left and right were one-dimensional and easy to read but by the the time I'm playing hand for hand these people would probably be toast.
Another thing... I know I've been 'balanced' to another table a few minutes from bubble play and not been able to get an accurate read because everyone is folding everything under the sun except for pocket rockets. So when I did raise them with KK in that situation I had someone go all in with AK.. and hit their ace. Busted, on the bubble.

At the micro-level just about everyone I run into is one-dimensional. I go off my observations until I am proven wrong. At that point I have to give them more credit as a skilled player.

Yeah, you're right. It just stinks when I'm assuming that and I'm rakin' in chips until someone pulls my favorite.. call a big raise with middle pockets and slowplays the shit out of me when I'm in bad position. It just looks like they're on a draw or chasing something to the river until I realize this person has got me by the pubes.