As the dreaded money bubble approaches in Texas Hold ‘Em poker online tournaments, most players tend to tighten up their play in hopes of surviving into the money. These people hardly play any hands other than the most premium cards and just fold their way into the money.
However, the bubble turns some poker online players into sharks ready to prey on the fearful who flee any action. The money bubble typically offers myriad opportunities to steal blinds and pots because fear rules the survivor mode players.
Usually there are two types of players who adapt the shark mentality and play aggressively as the bubble approaches. First, there are the short stack players who may not survive more than a few rounds of blinds. These players have to make a move or they will simply be blinded out of the tournament. When they get any decent starting hand, they have to shove and hope for the best. Perhaps they will win only the blinds, but as least they have covered their chip loss for one round.
Then there are the big stacks who know they can push around the survival mode players. It’s not likely their aggressive betting will cost them enough chips to end their tournament life before the bubble. They can exploit the tight players.
You don’t have to necessarily be a big stack though to pursue aggressive poker play, especially if you have mostly survivor types at the table. Even with a mediocre stack, you can be selectively aggressive if the table is tight. In that case, play contrary to the table and be aggressive, especially when there are no big stacks betting behind you.
