After the bubble in MTT

[ZootMurph]

From what I've seen, it starts to tighten up again when about halfway through the money positions. In the stated example, where 80 pay, around when 40 are left the play starts getting tighter, and the final two tables or so the play gets absolutely 'tough'.

The reasons I think this happens are:

1) People who made it past the bubble are just happy to be in the money, and are real loose now. Since these are generally smaller stacks, they will usually be out soon and that's when it tightens up.
2) People are trying to build up a big stack to make the bigger money, and now that they have a profit they are pushing small edges as much as possible to do it.

Around halfway through the money, these two groups are basically gone or have made a significant stack and are now waiting for opportunities. Smaller stacks are now playing the bubble game trying to get up one more level, while many medium stacks are 'lying in wait', which is why it tightens up again.

At the final tables, the blinds have become significant. So blind stealing is a larger part of the game, and the game becomes a typical tough TAG game. Some bubble type play still exists, but not much and usually just the shortest stack or two.

At least this is the way I see the games go in the Party mid level games that I play (20+2, 30+3, and 50+5). This post reminds me that I want to email Party and BEG them to institute antes into the game, preferably no later than Level 9... I'd prefer to see antes start at Level 7.