Burst the Bubble

[LombardiStix]

This is a generalized strategy question. I'm curious, all things being average (your stack and relative position) during a SNG when ther is one player left to the $ do you...?

a) Tighten up

b) Stay the same

c) Get more agressive

d) I don't have a strategy


Now I realize it may depend on ur opponents to an extent, in which case... choose which is your preferred philosophy in this situation and explain.

[PokerJonny]

Now I realize it may depend on ur opponents to an extent,

Totally opponent dependent.

In general:

If you have loose aggro opps then tighten up.

If you have tight opps then get more aggressive.

If stacks are small relative to blinds and the bubble becomes a push/fold situation then use ICM to determine your actions based on your best guess at oppenents hand ranges.

[GOIVIT]

Assuming relatively equal chip stacks (at lease for 3 or the 4 left) I get a little tighter because you never know when 2 people will get a hand and bet big or all in. You might sneak into the money. I still play premium hands aggressively and don't chase (my 1 rule). If it is not there I fold and wait for the next hand (only seconds away).

[Poker Orifice]

You have to widen your range and stealing blinds is key!!! Sure if you're met with resistance you give up the hand.... but most often a decent raise will take it down (if you're playing at a buyin level above super micro and are on a tougher table & not a super weak one). On equal-sized stacks, they're not going to be calling down your raise while on the blinds very often at all, and would more likely be re-raise shoving ALLIN back at ya as opposed to just 'calling'.
Too many players sit there too tight on the bubble, watching their Fold Equity dribble away. Any decent SNG player would have an overly tight bubble player pegged in a heartbeat and would be relentlessly pummelling on your blinds.
You can't just sit and wait for monster hands as time usually does not allow for it. You hopefully willl be wanting to get in a steal each orbit, OR if running dead then would want to re-steal in an effort to make up for it.

[eberetta1]

The other day, I folded AA, AA, KK , just to guarantee I would make it past the
bubble.

Even longer ago, I folded a big slick which would have gotten me into the money.
I ended up not being in the money because 2 other people won their blinds
which should have taken either one of them out of the money before me.

You just do what you can in my book. I prefer to protect my bankroll.
However, I have friends who say they prefer 1st or nothing at all. They do not
play to get in the money. They play to get to the final table. That is just not me.

I prefer to protect the bankroll. It goes up painfully slowly, but I do not
have to make deposits.

[spowers454]

I try to tighten up a little but also open up my range of hands so it kinda offsets itself. So I guess it would be stay the same. But always play the players so my play adjust to play against them and dont really stick to my game cause my game turns into playing into their game.

[tbdbitl]

Like about any question, there are many variables that dictate your play. Opponents play to this point. Chip stacks. Your table image. Your stack size in relation to the other stacks. Your stack size as it relates to the blinds. . . .

There generally are no cookie cutter, one line answers to what amounts to situational play.

Wait a minute I do have one:

It depends.

[MRNASTY1]

I personally like to play more hands. It is usually the only time in poker when people will fold A rag. I will try and see and flop with suited connectors or higher connectors just because you see everyone fold to the bb. Then again who knows

[NoWuckingFurries]

b) Stay the same

[GypsyTea]

This is a generalized strategy question. I'm curious, all things being average (your stack and relative position) during a SNG when ther is one player left to the $ do you...?

a) Tighten up

b) Stay the same

c) Get more agressive

d) I don't have a strategy


Now I realize it may depend on ur opponents to an extent, in which case... choose which is your preferred philosophy in this situation and explain.

David Sklanski says -10 from the bubble dont play ANYTHING it's more important to CASH.

MTT only for me it depends on how many chips I have, what the buy-in is and what the chip leaders stack is, then I make a decision on what I am going to do!

S&G The one's I play are way under my bankroll requirements so I usually go for it and dont worrie, if I win I win, if I lose I go to the next game, I a usually playing more than 4 anyway so its "Monkey Syndrome" ie:

Pull the leaver get a Banana !

Regards

GT