Backing into the money: bad idea MTT, but how about STT?

BrettP217 · #1 12-15-2005, 04:57 AM

nope... proper play requires you to go ape [censored] on the bubble... so your reasoning is wrong

splashpot · #2 12-15-2005, 05:02 AM

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nope... proper play requires you to go ape [censored] on the bubble... so your reasoning is wrong

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No it's not. His reasoning is right. It's is MUCH more valueable to sneak into the money in a sng. Correct bubble play is not always going apeshit. Survival on the bubble is your #1 priority. Bullying comes second.

#3 12-15-2005, 05:25 AM

Depends on the table, no? If everyone is sitting on their hands, waiting to make it ITM, you can steal fairly regularly. If they play back at you, maybe you calm down then.

I wouldnt go "apesh!t," but if they cave at a min raise, go for it.

splashpot · #4 12-15-2005, 05:31 AM

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Depends on the table, no? If everyone is sitting on their hands, waiting to make it ITM, you can steal fairly regularly. If they play back at you, maybe you calm down then.

I wouldnt go "apesh!t," but if they cave at a min raise, go for it.

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Yes, you're right. As I said, bubble play is not always the same. But it still holds true that survival is your first and most important priority.

OP was asking if squeaking into the money is a good way to think. Correct me if I misunderstand him, but I think he was asking if it's better to avoid big gambles on the bubble in hopes of sneaking into the money. It is.

#5 12-15-2005, 05:33 AM

I think we're agreed. Yeah, maybe I missed that point - re: gambling. As I qualified, I wouldn't go "apesh!t" on the bubble, but pick my spots.

But I don't think the OP should pass on opportunities to pick up some blinds, if everybody is gagging.

youtalkfunny · #6 12-15-2005, 10:32 AM

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OP was asking if squeaking into the money is a good way to think. Correct me if I misunderstand him, but I think he was asking if it's better to avoid big gambles on the bubble in hopes of sneaking into the money. It is.

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To be clear, I've always felt squeaking into the money in MTT was a terrible way to play.

I brought this attitude with me to STT, and started to think it was wrong. Sounds like most of you agree.

I hadn't played STT's in a long time. I started dabbling with them again, and was doing very well, so I decided to focus on them for a while. I played ten $20+2's last night, and had three 4th-place finishes, which I thought was too many, given my stack sizes and fishiness of opponents.

I was treating 3rd place money with disdain, like it was next to nothing, the way I would treat squeaking into a MTT payday. But after starting out 0-for-4, a couple of 3rd's really made an impact on my bottom line, and I started to consider that I may be in error.

Great discussion, thank you all.