Keeping your cool as you prepare to make it to the money in Texas Hold’em is important
Knowing how to play the bubble is important as it is a crucial time in any tournament. This is where you need to be extra focused and increase your chances of making a deep run and hopefully winning. Particularly during Sit-and-Go’s, some players can get a little anxious when the bubble is approaching, so not knowing how to play can break your chances of moving forward in the tournament.
If you happen to be in possession of a big stack, then playing near the bubble doesn’t bring major stress. But even though you end up playing with a small stack, don’t stop trying to get involved in the game; the worst thing you could do is let the blinds eat your stack and take no action. This is a strategy that you could follow playing a satellite, where the prize for all paid places has the same value.
One aspect that is common among Sit-and-Go players is that you should only play to cash out more than playing to win; your actual goal should always be to win. Both the stack size and the flow of the table play vital roles in the type of approach you need to take when the bubble is around the corner. If you happen to have a small stack, for example, you need to look for that moment and shove it all in and hope for the best.
On the other hand, if you have a big stack, try to balance the amount of pressure you put on the other players or it could easily backfire. At this stage of a tournament, some players are much more willing to back down to pressure and play more recklessly. Be selective to pick those spots where you will try to steal chips; each attempt you do ensures that next one doesn’t happen as easily.
