Bubble Strategy

[kevyk]

Hello All,

I have recently been attempting to move up a buy-in level from the $50 SnGs to $100 SnGs. The main difference I have noticed is in the tightness of the players. Where in a $50 SnG, there seem to be only about 4-5 players left when the blinds reach 50-100 or 75-150, at the $100 level, there are often 7 (or even more!).
This ability that $100 players have to survive to the later rounds seems to mainly be a function of tight-passive play, which suggests that well-timed steal attempts will be rewarded. I have run into the following problem, however: when I am running bad or indifferent(let's assume t1500 chips by the 75-150 level), many steal attempts require an all-in to satisfy the twin criteria that the raise should be (a) about 3 time the size of the BB, and (b) if this amount is more than about 1/3 of the stack, you are better off just pushing.
I have no problem taking risks, but I am starting to believe that any strategy that dictates you put your SnG life on the line every time you play a hand cannot be right. This "all-in or fold" strategy robs you of any opportunity to gain information about an opponent's hand, and negates any post-flop advantage you may have had over a player behind you.
I wonder whether min-raising as a rule might be more correct in this situation. A tight player with nothing will usually still fold here, and you should be able to identify those players who will pop you with nothing.
I should note that this post is in response to a bad losing streak where I keep getting bubbled after deciding to make a steal and getting picked off when my weak-tight target wakes up with a hand.