Aggressive Bubble Play In Poker

November 24th, 2009

Have you ever been short stacked in a poker tournament when you’re right on the bubble? Before you answer that, let’s just make sure we’re on the same page. The bubble is what is referred to as right out of the money. For example, if the top three places pay and you’re in fourth with four players remaining, you’re on the bubble. It’s the last place you want to finish in a tournament yet someone always has to finish there.

When you learn poker, one of the first things you should figure out is how to play the bubble. The first poker game you’re going to play is often going to be a tournament, not a cash game. Anyone that jumps straight into a cash game is asking for trouble. With a tournament, your risk is often small with a large reward. You can also develop a poker strategy when you play in tournaments.

Let’s get back to playing the bubble. There are two ways to go about this, and it will depend on your goal. If you’re looking to just come in the money, as in 3rd place would make you happy, you can often fold your way in. At this point in the tournament, players will be folding and going all-in a lot. You can often wait for someone else to bust. Once you’re in the money, you can attack.

On the other hand, if you want to come in first place, you need to attack the large blinds. When you’re in this situation, you must remember that any two cards can win. This attitude will allow you to be more aggressive, which will most likely earn you more chips. You must keep in mind that the three other players are going to be cautious unless they have a monster. That being the case, the key is to play position. If they’re aggressive early, get out of the way. If they’re timid early and you’re in late position, attack. Not only will this approach most likely earn you more chips and put you in the running for first place, but it will improve your table image, which will be enormously beneficial for future games.

In conclusion, when you’re on the bubble and you want first, attack. All-in should be common. Keep in mind that other players will respect your moves because of your bubble position in the tournament.

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Advanced Poker Tips