STT Bubbles

SaintNick1968

SaintNick1968

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Okay- another thread specifically on bubbles :p They sure are confusing.

Earlier today I managed to win a satellite to the Sunday million from a $1.45 investment in a regular speed satellite that gave four tickets to the event, which is great. However, it occurred to me that I didn't really know how I should be playing with my short/ medium stack on the bubble. I managed to get it in behind J10 vs AJ one time, and I felt at some points like I was shoving too infrequently and bleeding chips, but honestly I'm not sure.

So, I assume I should be shoving far more in general with a short or medium stack and folding far more to shoves because gaining chips will give me less EV than losing chips would. I presume that I should be shoving a lot into medium stacks who need to fold more to my shoves, and I also assume that I should be changing my shoving ranges a lot based on the players I am up against because if the player is not adapting to the bubble and they are calling too wide then I would need to shove less. Also, I guess that with a big stack I should actually be tighter because I can fold to the money and there is no reason for me to risk my chips, especially against fishy opponents who call far too wide. However, as I say, all of the stuff I've said there is based on guesswork and a vague knowledge of normal STT bubbles, but I'm not sure if any of what I said makes any sense :D

Does anyone have any tips or pointers as to how I should be playing in these sorts of spots? Am I thinking in the right way (at all)?

Thanks!
 
Rounder_740

Rounder_740

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It's preference. On the bubble, bigger stacks should play more aggressive against weaker stacks and smaller stacks should be tighter and shove more frequently in good positions on the table. I.e. Shove if it folds to you in the small blind with a weaker hand like queen high.
 
DuffMcGruff

DuffMcGruff

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In reference to the satellite, the game ends when the bubble bursts. If you have one chip you win the same as the chip lead. Your opponents know this too, so with a medium stack I would play aggressively against all but other medium stacks. Short stacks are likely to call you thin and big stacks are only gonna come in if they think they have you beat. Of course as always you have to play the player. Now in normal structures, the money is weighted to the top so I always try to get to the final table with a big stack if not the chip lead. Others prefer to play safer until the bubble bursts and then start trying to chip up. Like Rounder_740 said it's preference. Keep in mind you can buy blinds easiest when the bubble is about to burst, but don't get carried away. Hope this helped and keep learning buddy!
 
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