mtts near the bubble

[custom36 5]

For the most part, I consider myself a pretty good MTT player (NL Hold'em). Usually around the end of the first (and, depending on the field, the 2nd) break, I find myself near the top of the board. However, as we get closer to the spots that cash, I seem to stop making profit. I'm usually a tight-aggressive player and as the levels move up, the pots I win only really cover what I lose in blinds and such. I usually finish just inside the first or second level of payouts.How do I change my play as we reach the bubble? Should I play more hands as the table tightens? Where do I draw the line for playable hands? Any and all advice is much appreciated. Thanks.

[gobears 0]

I've had some good luck in the past month as I've won my first MTT and finished 2nd in two others so hopefully it's because my play is getting better (at least that's what I'd like to think).Here are my general thoughts.You have to steal blinds to survive; From MP to the button, I'm going to try to steal the blinds with connectors, two suited cards, any PP. I always fire 3xBB so that my opponents can't determine what I have. I'll limp in with connectors and suited cards if someone is in before me but won't limp in first.Also being in from MP to the button, I tend to have position which is a key. I don't play A or K rag unless I feel that the blinds are weak.If the blinds are strong, then I increase my starting hands requirements (no low connectors or low suited cards or low PP).As you get closer to the final table, you have to be willing to go all-in to force the action. I'll go all-in with the nuts (no slowplay) or with a draw especially if I'm below the average stack. At this point, I'm looking to double up to get above the average. If you are getting close to where your stack is 10x the BB, then you have to double up before your stack dwindles to where even a a double up won't help you.I play tight in the early stages but I loosen up as the tournament progresses; I think that my problems in the past were that I played too tight and always ended up with a below average stack right around the bubble. I would then be blinded away as I waited for that "strong" hand.

[Absolute 0]

I really like to get "clever" with my hands right around with point where you can tell everyone wants to really tighten up and hit the big payouts.Avoid getting your chips in pre-flop and avoid betting in to players who will likely push in if they decide to play.In the later levels, past the bubble, your post-flop play needs to get significantly more tricky and your reads need to play a huge part in the moves you make and when you make them.I would not reccomend playing a MTT without a stats tracker.

[lies 0]

get pokertrackertake note of the players who play overly tight and raise their blindsit doesnt matter what cards you have

[wrto4556 0]

It's hard to say, but with a bunch of tight players you should open raise with alot of hands from middle position and late position.On the bubble and when the blinds get "scary" big is where you open up your game.Pairs are always a good start. So are junk hands like J8s...Time to be aggressive. The only way you can win is by doing so. You can't sit back and nut peddle and expect the cards to do all the work for you. Just don't get carried away or you blow off all your chips.

[monoatomic 0]

I'll actually take the opposite approach to the situation.If I am in a multi and near the bubble unless I am I one of the chip leaders I just want to make the money. I am totally against this whole idea of blind stealing to accumulate chips when it can cost me a cash. Maybe it's the realist in me but if I am an average chip stack I know the odds of me hitting a great run of cards just at the right time to vault me into the chip lead are pretty slim.So I wait it out, let you aggressive types make your moves and bust out and fly under the radar till I hit the money. I am not against blind stealing if I have a hand to do so but I won't try and steal the blinds from mid position with J8s. I also won't go out of my way to try and steal pots off of people with huge chip stacks that are going to be willing to call my marginal holding to get me out of the tourney.Basically I am of the if I make money I am happy. I don't need to feed my ego and bust two out of the money because I am not playing to just cash I am playing to win.

[wrto4556 0]

I'll actually take the opposite approach to the situation.If I am in a multi and near the bubble unless I am I one of the chip leaders I just want to make the money. I am totally against this whole idea of blind stealing to accumulate chips when it can cost me a cash. Maybe it's the realist in me but if I am an average chip stack I know the odds of me hitting a great run of cards just at the right time to vault me into the chip lead are pretty slim.So I wait it out, let you aggressive types make your moves and bust out and fly under the radar till I hit the money. I am not against blind stealing if I have a hand to do so but I won't try and steal the blinds from mid position with J8s. I also won't go out of my way to try and steal pots off of people with huge chip stacks that are going to be willing to call my marginal holding to get me out of the tourney.Basically I am of the if I make money I am happy. I don't need to feed my ego and bust two out of the money because I am not playing to just cash I am playing to win.

You will hardly ever WIN like that. You may sneak in the money, but all you get back is your buy in.