The bubble can be the most excruciating time in a poker tournament. Hand after hand, players deliberate and take their time as they struggle to survive. Making the money is a big deal to most players, and during the bubble many players allow their stacks to dwindle to next to nothing because it’s more important for them to survive and cash than to take a chance and risk elimination. Once the bubble has burst though, the game changes dramatically, and it’s important to recognise the changes and make the necessary adjustments.
Once the money has been reached it’s a lot like when school has just been let out for the day. Everyone is excited and running around like crazy. For many people, the money they have just won is a big deal and now that they have accomplished this goal they adopt a carefree and reckless attitude. This attitude leads to bad play, and as a good player it’s your job to take advantage of such mistakes to help you go on a deep run.
Taking chances
The biggest adjustment you can make at this stage is to understand that short stacks (less than 15 big blinds) are going to be playing less than premium hands. Now they have made the money they are looking to gamble and spin up some chips. Many of these players will be moving in with a wide range of hands that they would not play in normal situations. Accordingly, you should expand the range of hands that you call all-in raises with. Where you might normally fold a hand like A-T, K-J, or pocket Fours, against a short stack’s all-in these hands suddenly become very playable – as long as you will not be crippled if you lose the hand.
Of course, just because the bubble has burst doesn’t mean the tight, survival-money players will all turn into maniacs. There will be players who think they don’t have enough chips to have a chance at winning and know that players are going to be eliminated in rapid fashion. These players will be looking to move up to the next higher payout. You can spot these players because they are behaving like players on the bubble. Sometimes they will even say something along the lines of ‘only three more bust-outs until the next pay jump.’ Take advantage of these players by attacking their blinds.
Read part II