Bubble trouble... I often finish 4th-6th

[Dr_Jeckyl_00]

I am getting tired of placing fourth-sixth. I am basically a break-even player (at $11's) to sometimes down, rarely ahead for long. Below is my bubble play. The two hands I think I should have played diffently would be to go all-in w/ my A7, and fold my J9 (and lose my BB).
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t200 (4 handed) converter

Hero (t1400)
SB (t2315)
BB (t1445)
UTG (t2840)

Preflop: Hero is Button with K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
<font color="#CC3333">UTG raises to t600</font>, <font color="#666666">3 folds</font>.

Final Pot: t1100

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t200 (4 handed) converter

Hero (t1400)
Button (t2215)
SB (t1245)
BB (t3140)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Button raises to t2415 (All-In)</font>, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>.

Final Pot: t3015

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t200 (4 handed) converter

Hero (t1400)
UTG (t2515)
Button (t1145)
SB (t2940)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Button raises to t1345 (All-In)</font>, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>.

Final Pot: t2045

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t300 (4 handed) converter

Hero (t1200)
BB (t2515)
UTG (t1445)
Button (t2840)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 6[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">3 folds</font>.

Final Pot: t1050

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t300 (4 handed) converter

Hero (t1050)
SB (t2665)
BB (t1445)
UTG (t2840)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">3 folds</font>.

Final Pot: t1050

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t300 (4 handed) converter

Hero (t1050)
Button (t2515)
SB (t1595)
BB (t2840)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">SB raises to t1595 (All-In)</font>, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>.

Final Pot: t2195

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t300 (4 handed) converter

Hero (t1050)
UTG (t2515)
Button (t1895)
SB (t2540)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Button raises to t1895 (All-In)</font>, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, Hero calls t750 (All-In).

Flop: (t3095) A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players, 2 all-in)</font>

Turn: (t3095) Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players, 2 all-in)</font>

River: (t3095) 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players, 2 all-in)</font>

Final Pot: t3095

[spentrent]

I'd most likely push the 6[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], and A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] hands. Everything else looks standard (to me).

EDIT: I'd fold the J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] hand.

EDIT AGAIN: Err, nevermind, that stack is BEFORE you post the BB, correct? In which case I'd call there.

[hummusx]

[ QUOTE ]
I'd most likely push the 6[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], and A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] hands. Everything else looks standard (to me).

EDIT: I'd fold the J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] hand.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with the pushes. I'm not sure about the fold. You aren't going to have a whole lot of FE on the next hand (pot will be 1050 to his 450 to call). Although this might be the place where you realize you are so short stacked you should just wait and hope you get something you can double/triple with in the next 3 hands. J9s isn't the worst hand you could have...

[spentrent]

Sorry I got my re-edit in too late ;-).

[Dr_Jeckyl_00]

I am surprised that you push w/ 6 9 (Q 7 too). It is so weak... aren't you supposed to play much tighter in the bubble? Please explain why that is a push...

As far as my calling w/ J 9, felt like I had to make a stand since I only had 1 1/2 round left until I blinded out, otherwise I would not have called.

[spentrent]

BTW I might as well add some rationale.

For the 69 and Q7 hands your position makes for great stealing opportunities. The A7 hand is a nice one to have for defending future fold equity -- I would push any two there, in fact, to defend future fold equity.

[kyro]

[ QUOTE ]
aren't you supposed to play much tighter in the bubble?

[/ QUOTE ]

Have you even read this forum? Where are you getting this information?

[spentrent]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
aren't you supposed to play much tighter in the bubble?

[/ QUOTE ]

Have you even read this forum? Where are you getting this information?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think that the old "How to beat the $10+1" post suggests this.

[RobGW]

What he said. You must get aggressive in these situations. You have 2 choices. You can push in a favorable situation and keep up with the blinds and other big stacks. You can fold and wait for good cards. If you start pushing, sure you'll run into good hands sometimes and bust out on the bubble. Sometimes you'll suck out on them and double up giving you a better chance to win. If you fold too much though, you'll have to catch a good hand which will not be often enough. Not to mention that even if you get your money in with the best hand you still may not win.

[kyro]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
aren't you supposed to play much tighter in the bubble?

[/ QUOTE ]

Have you even read this forum? Where are you getting this information?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think that the old "How to beat the $10+1" post suggests this.

[/ QUOTE ]

Really?