Any suggestions on how to play when the bubble nears?

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ayeshekenkyle

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I have this habit of not wanting to bet with decent hands like TT, JJ, AJ, AQ and sometimes even with monster hands like QQ, AK when nearing the bubble so I end up getting in the bubble but winning only the lose change of the prize. I want to experience winning big bucks. Need help in making me not scared of betting.
 
Ozzzzy

Ozzzzy

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Just 3bet small stacks with this hands. Even if they go all-in it will be cheap to call them.
 
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Sergei

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I have this habit of not wanting to bet with decent hands like TT, JJ, AJ, AQ and sometimes even with monster hands like QQ, AK when nearing the bubble so I end up getting in the bubble but winning only the lose change of the prize. I want to experience winning big bucks. Need help in making me not scared of betting.

Want to win play the same way as in the early stages of the tournament. But that's only in all-in to go to the hospital. Otherwise you are going to sit at the end of the list of prizes. Decide just what you want in the first place just to get to the prizes and get at least 50 cents or all the same, to reach the final table. Overcome the fear of loss is minimal win and you will have happiness.
 
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Karametric

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1 if everyone is playing stupidly tight, which happens often since people are scared of being bubble boy, raise unopened pots to steal the blinds often.

2 if you see someone following #1 (the above advice), 3 bet them liberally. If they are stealing to often, they won't be having good hands to happily call or shove with often.

3 Being ITM is not the goal, the goal is to win the tournament (unless this is a satellite or has a really, really flat payout structure). The only time you should fold a lot to make it in the money is if you have a really, really, really small stack, which should only happen if you lost a big pot as you should be shoving fairly liberally when you start getting short.

4 Note one thing I have not mentioned anywhere in this advice? your hand. The reason is that if you win hands without a showdown, it really doesn't matter if you have 27o or AA. Yes, your hand is important when someone calls your steals or 3 bets, and you should probably use something with some sort of value, but that is honestly less important than finding spots where you can bet to get others to fold out of the hand.

Now if you have donks that will just stack off with anything at this point (pretty rare occurrence), then you want to wait until you have something strongish, but even your decent hands are good enough for that.
 
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pain_pain_go_away

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There is some great advice in the posts above, but by the sounds of your original post, you already seem to have a handle on what your problem actually is. Therefore it should make correcting this problem alot easier.
The main point I would reiterate is; that all the real money is to be made on the final table especially first of course. Take advantage of those who have yet to recognise this fact. Aim for first every time as just one win or even a deep run is far greater than many just about in the money finishes. Good luck mate.
 
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Myar

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Want to win play the same way as in the early stages of the tournament. But that's only in all-in to go to the hospital. Otherwise you are going to sit at the end of the list of prizes. Decide just what you want in the first place just to get to the prizes and get at least 50 cents or all the same, to reach the final table. Overcome the fear of loss is minimal win and you will have happiness.

Depending on the site, one win is the same or more than 300+ min cashes. Play to win, and to win only. Playing to just cash on the bubble is going to cost you big. You play and win those hands, your proably going to cash 5 times as much than if you min cash. Your not going to lose enough with premium hands to lose more money than you wll win by playing them.
 
arielakarel

arielakarel

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I have this habit of not wanting to bet with decent hands like TT, JJ, AJ, AQ and sometimes even with monster hands like QQ, AK when nearing the bubble so I end up getting in the bubble but winning only the lose change of the prize. I want to experience winning big bucks. Need help in making me not scared of betting.

You should have your goal set beforehand, if you want the big buckes, prebubble is the best time to make a move cause there are a lot of people that fold good hands because they just want the change without the risk.
 
Mason Pye

Mason Pye

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Your play near the bubble depends on your stack size and your opponents tendencies. If you have a big stack, you can take advantage of the shorter and medium sized stacks who are trying to make the money by stealing their blinds. If you have a short stack, your best option is to avoid big confrontations and try to get your money in good so you can increase to a more playable stack. Also, if you have a big stack, you can look at players tendencies. For instance, if you realise that another big stack is opening many hands, you can counter this by 3-betting light. I don't suggest 3-betting any hand. What I suggest is 3-betting hands that you don't mind getting called with. For example, I would do this with Ax, KJ, K10 and Q10- in position of course. Hope this helps.
 
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11012015

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Sometimes all of the strategies are powerless. Luck plays a big role.
 
westside1950

westside1950

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You should play every tourney with a goal of winning it, not just making in the money.
So, instead of playing passively on the bubble increase your agression (especially with those hands you mentioned above) 'cause a lot of other players want to survive the bubble and you should take advantage of that :)
 
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ayeshekenkyle

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Thank you for the advice

Just about everyone has good advice, and you all seem to say is set my goal then go for it. Special mention to pain_pain_go_away, thank you your advice struck me deep. You are absolutely correct, winning $1000 one time is better than winning $1 from time to time.
 
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pain_pain_go_away

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No problem mate, that's what CardsChat is all about. I'm guilty of making the same mistake myself (& many more besides!) We're all trying to constantly learn & improve our game and this is a great place to to do that. Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question.
 
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hffjd2000

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You should be happy you can enter in the money.

Your placement depend much on luck and amount of chips you have since at end phase, blinds is so high. Play is now mechanical.
 
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JZarate

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In order to win "big bucks" you can not be afraid of loosing money. I would suggest designating a certain amount of money for loosing, or at least an amount you are not afraid of loosing, an consider this money as lost. Play with it and keep in mind that you will be the intelligently aggressive player.
gl
 
therealslomo

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The bubble is where a lot of chip accumulation takes place. There are many that are afraid to play because all that matters to them is making the money. They have no real goal beyond that as the money means to much to them. You have to loosen up and take advantage of those players as they generally won't play back without huge hands.
 
robertocoelho

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hands you said I would make a mini raise or 3bet, the average stack
 
Michael Paler

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You can certainly take advantage of the shorter stacks the closer you get, but you still have to be careful to pick the right time, the right spot, and lastly, the right cards. Otherwise, you can get nickeled and dimed to death, watching you stack erode one short stack at a time.

The most mistakes I see isn't calling opening shoves, it's forcing all ins at the clearly wrong time. I mean, if a 8 big blind stack UTG limps, you really think he would fold to a raise or shove from someone? Probably not. If the tables been tight, then he most likely has a very playable hand and prays you put him all in. Sure enough, I see em put these guys all in a lot and watch em get burned, being horribly behind pre flop. Sure, it's only 8 bigs - this time. Maybe a 10 big the next......you get the point.

However, there are players who simply will not call a raise or get involved until after the bubble unless they get Aces - and even then they might fold! Whats more, even after the bubble they might try to slow play to a higher payout by continuing to fold damn near everything. Sounds crazy, but these types are only thinking min-cash, so take advantage of them whenever possible. Just don't start throwing out big bets every time. 2-2.5x is more than enough to tell you what's what.
 
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