Destroying the bubble...

[DLC11]

Would anyone mind giving me some tips on how to do this? When it gets down to 4 or 5 handed, how much should you open things up? How often?
Do I need to wait until the blinds hit 50/100 before I start trying to steal them?

Also, what is the standard raise when playing on the bubble? I always raise 3X the BB...is that the way to go?

[vqc]

If I could sum it up to you in one post, I would. But its not possible.

There are situations where you can push any 2 cards profitably.
There are situations where pushing 96o is profitable.

Stealing is stack size dependant, opponent dependant, blind size dependant, and finally card dependant (probably in that order of importance as well).

Stealing
Minimum risk for maximum return.
If you can minraise to steal and get away with it, then do it. If you need to raise 3xBB to steal, then thats probably the way to go. It all depends on your opponent. Therefore, your answer is, somehwere between 2x and 3xBB.

Post hands. There are a lot of bubble situiations.
Just ask rubix.

[DLC11]

Thanks for the reply. What about this move:

PokerStars Game #2611301983: Tournament #12753284, Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2005/09/19 - 04:48:14 (ET)
Table '12753284 1' Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: C Note 794 (2355 in chips)
Seat 5: dattypham (1830 in chips)
Seat 6: ejo1 (7295 in chips)
Seat 7: gochargers21 (225 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 8: PLayadlc (1795 in chips)
gochargers21: posts small blind 75
PLayadlc: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to PLayadlc [4s 4c]
C Note 794: folds
dattypham: folds
ejo1: raises 150 to 300
gochargers21: folds
PLayadlc: raises 1495 to 1795 and is all-in
ejo1: calls 1495
*** FLOP *** [Jh 7c 6c]
*** TURN *** [Jh 7c 6c] [Ts]
*** RIVER *** [Jh 7c 6c Ts] [5h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
PLayadlc: shows [4s 4c] (a pair of Fours)
ejo1: shows [Jc Ad] (a pair of Jacks)
ejo1 collected 3665 from pot
fishintimber [observer] said, "works every time except the last"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3665 | Rake 0
Board [Jh 7c 6c Ts 5h]
Seat 1: C Note 794 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: dattypham folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: ejo1 (button) showed [Jc Ad] and won (3665) with a pair of Jacks
Seat 7: gochargers21 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: PLayadlc (big blind) showed [4s 4c] and lost with a pair of Fours

[Drewbie]

I think that push with the pocket 4's to a min raise is a little tentative.
Personally, I would have looked for a better spot.

What was the other chaps style?

[JeffreyGB]

If you were facing anyone but the big stack at the table, the 44 push is good. Even against a tight big stack, I don't hate it. You can't tell enough about the table to know for sure from this, but I think, as Drewbie said, you could find a better spot.

I'd try not to face the big stack with less than a great hand if possible, unless he's playing every hand.

[GixMage]

First off, the goal is to win the pot at a minimal of risk. All in is hardly a minimal risk, and you already have one raiser in the pot. The best stealing conditions involve what is called "first in vigorish", in which you are the first person to enter the pot, and do so with a raise.

Second, it seems the observer made a point in the hh with his comment of "works every time but the last". Always be aware of how you are preceived at the table. Have you been pushing every hand? Is the raiser a tight player?

The goal of bubble play is to increase you chips on the assumption that most of the players will be tentative, trying to limp into the money. You need to find the smallest raise ammount that will get people to fold unless they have a good hand. Watch the hands even when your not playing, making note of the raise sizes and who folds, who calls, etc. If you bet 3X bb and everyone folds, try 2.5X bb. If one player always folds unless he has a monster, always raise his bb if you can enter the pot first. BUT, remember that blind stealing is still a BLUFF. Do not get trapped into thinking you have to play 84os because you already have money in the pot. If you encounter resistance with a bad hand, get out. You will make more money with your steals and reads than gambling with bad cards.

Just my 2 cents.

[JeffreyGB]

First off, the goal is to win the pot at a minimal of risk. All in is hardly a minimal risk, and you already have one raiser in the pot. The best stealing conditions involve what is called "first in vigorish", in which you are the first person to enter the pot, and do so with a raise.

Second, it seems the observer made a point in the hh with his comment of "works every time but the last". Always be aware of how you are preceived at the table. Have you been pushing every hand? Is the raiser a tight player?

The goal of bubble play is to increase you chips on the assumption that most of the players will be tentative, trying to limp into the money. You need to find the smallest raise ammount that will get people to fold unless they have a good hand. Watch the hands even when your not playing, making note of the raise sizes and who folds, who calls, etc. If you bet 3X bb and everyone folds, try 2.5X bb. If one player always folds unless he has a monster, always raise his bb if you can enter the pot first. BUT, remember that blind stealing is still a BLUFF. Do not get trapped into thinking you have to play 84os because you already have money in the pot. If you encounter resistance with a bad hand, get out. You will make more money with your steals and reads than gambling with bad cards.

Just my 2 cents.

You're neglecting the fact that he had a hand here. With 44, he was slightly ahead preflop. Not enough, given stack sizes, to make this play worth it IMHO, but he wasn't completely on a steal here, and I think that this play is great against anyone but the big stack at the table.

[TLR]

I do not like the push here.
you are facing the big stack, he will call you with any playable hand, and you are either a coinflip or way behind.
The blinds are less then 10% of your stack, no reason to gamble your entire stack here

[JeffreyGB]

I do not like the push here.
you are facing the big stack, he will call you with any playable hand, and you are either a coinflip or way behind.
The blinds are less then 10% of your stack, no reason to gamble your entire stack here

Agreed. But it's not nearly as much of a gamble if the other player in is anyone but the big stack. Do you see why?