Full Tilt Knockout Tournament Bubble Play
I notice many players get tight when they get close to the bubble. I also notice many players get loose and really try to build their chip stack for the final table at this point. It seems that there is about an equal amount of both in any tournament where you are getting close to the bubble. In the online tournaments that I like to play, this usually occurs around 15-22 player left, with the top 9 making the final table and the money. Rather than playing completely one way or another, I believe that there is a little better strategy to employee at these times.
First off, I do think aggression near the bubble is good. Many players are getting tight and protecting their stacks, figuring that they have invested this much time in the tournament, they might as well stick around to get paid. This may not be a bad strategy if your chip stack is big enough to make it. What these players do not realize is that the blinds and antes will really start to affect them at this point. $10k in chips is not nearly enough when the blinds start getting up to $2000-$1000 w/antes.
Therefore, I think the best idea is to look to steal and be aggressive whenever you play a hand. Personally, I do not like to play a hand that I would not feel comfortable calling an all-in with at this point. The only exception would be to make a position play that I feel sure would not result in a call.
At these points, with a stack of lets say about $20,000, and blinds and antes totally $3500 or so, I will raise at least 3x-4x the big blind. What that will do is make the players who are just trying to hang on uncomfortable enough to fold. If my opponents have say $10,000-$15,000, they cannot call a $4k bet without a great hand. What I am looking to do is simply take down the blinds and antes at this point. I do not even want to seeA� a flop if I can help it. If I come up against a very small stack, that is ok, otherwise, I want to push everyone else out of the hand and build my stack.
There is a rule I have that goes along with this, however. Once I have built my stack, I will tighten up and only play very premium cards like Q-Q, K-K, A-A or A-K. I will pre-determine a point that I want my chip stack to get to and once I am there, I will stop pushing.
The reason for this is simple. If I have built my stack enough to coast to the final table, why risk it? Obviously, if I can double up, great. If I can put out a small stack, great. But if I know I have enough to take me to the money, I can relax a bit.
Many times, I will see a player make aggressive plays and do an excellent job of turning his $10k into $30k, only to blow it calling someone when he has A-4 off suit. This is dumb. If you have done the work to put yourself in good shape for the final table, don't risk it trying to win every hand. Remember, some of the tight players will only be playing premium hands. If you call an all-in with A-6 off suit, you may find yourself up against A-K and totally dominated. Don't let that happen unless you can avoid it.
Bubble play is all about size. If you are short stacked, you have to play a huge variety of hands. If you have a medium stack, you might pick your spots. If you have a big stack, be more particular. Don't enter into pots unless you can steal or are pretty sure you have the best chance to win.A� Don't be one of these players who builds up a stack only to lose it with one dumb call. Be satisfied once you get to a certain point and you will finish in the money much more often.
I notice many players get tight when they get close to the bubble. I also notice many players get loose and really try to build their chip stack for the final table at this point. It seems that there is about an equal amount of both in any tournament where you are getting close to the bubble. In the online tournaments that I like to play, this usually occurs around 15-22 player left, with the top 9 making the final table and the money. Rather than playing completely one way or another, I believe that there is a little better strategy to employee at these times.
First off, I do think aggression near the bubble is good. Many players are getting tight and protecting their stacks, figuring that they have invested this much time in the tournament, they might as well stick around to get paid. This may not be a bad strategy if your chip stack is big enough to make it. What these players do not realize is that the blinds and antes will really start to affect them at this point. $10k in chips is not nearly enough when the blinds start getting up to $2000-$1000 w/antes.
Therefore, I think the best idea is to look to steal and be aggressive whenever you play a hand. Personally, I do not like to play a hand that I would not feel comfortable calling an all-in with at this point. The only exception would be to make a position play that I feel sure would not result in a call.
At these points, with a stack of lets say about $20,000, and blinds and antes totally $3500 or so, I will raise at least 3x-4x the big blind. What that will do is make the players who are just trying to hang on uncomfortable enough to fold. If my opponents have say $10,000-$15,000, they cannot call a $4k bet without a great hand. What I am looking to do is simply take down the blinds and antes at this point. I do not even want to seeA� a flop if I can help it. If I come up against a very small stack, that is ok, otherwise, I want to push everyone else out of the hand and build my stack.
There is a rule I have that goes along with this, however. Once I have built my stack, I will tighten up and only play very premium cards like Q-Q, K-K, A-A or A-K. I will pre-determine a point that I want my chip stack to get to and once I am there, I will stop pushing.
The reason for this is simple. If I have built my stack enough to coast to the final table, why risk it? Obviously, if I can double up, great. If I can put out a small stack, great. But if I know I have enough to take me to the money, I can relax a bit.
Many times, I will see a player make aggressive plays and do an excellent job of turning his $10k into $30k, only to blow it calling someone when he has A-4 off suit. This is dumb. If you have done the work to put yourself in good shape for the final table, don't risk it trying to win every hand. Remember, some of the tight players will only be playing premium hands. If you call an all-in with A-6 off suit, you may find yourself up against A-K and totally dominated. Don't let that happen unless you can avoid it.
Bubble play is all about size. If you are short stacked, you have to play a huge variety of hands. If you have a medium stack, you might pick your spots. If you have a big stack, be more particular. Don't enter into pots unless you can steal or are pretty sure you have the best chance to win.A� Don't be one of these players who builds up a stack only to lose it with one dumb call. Be satisfied once you get to a certain point and you will finish in the money much more often.
