Have you ever been short stacked in a Tournament when you are right on the bubble? Before you answer, we’ll just make sure that we are 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 are in fourth with four players remaining, you are on the bubble. It is the last place that 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 pick up on is how to play the bubble. The first poker game which you’re going to play is often going to be a tournament, and 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 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 are looking to just come in the money, as in 3rd place would make you happy, you can often fold your way in there. 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 are in the money, then you can attack.
On the flip side, if you want to come in first, you need to attack the large blinds. When you are 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. It is important to 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 are aggressive early, get out of the way. If they are timid early and you are 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.
To sum things up, when you are 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.
