[hcow33]

Playing a 1 table SnG on Stars. 4 handed I'm 3rd in chips, but only have around 1500. Short stack has less than 2BB's left and is typing/begging into the chat box for someone to go all in so he can make the money.

Blinds are at 100/200 and I get AQ UTG+1. UTG, (3K in chips) min-raises. I don't like calling here and letting the raiser see a flop. I can reraise here to isolate but then I am basically commited. I push all in. Folds to the raiser who thinks for almost a minute and finally calls. She turns over 22 and spikes another 2 on the flop, but I get a few clubs as well. Alas, the turn and river bring no more clubs, so out I go.

Should I have waited for the shortstack to go out before I made my move? I really thought that if I could double up there, I could have made a run for first place. It just seems I get to be bubble boy more than I should when I get agressive trying to double up late and end up busting. Would you have pushed in my situation or would you have waited? I know we play to win, but how do you play the bubble?

[cemfredmd]

Just my opinion, but I think you didnt pick the best hand to go all in with. I would have called the min-raise, and see how they bet on the flop. While you would have gotten a lot of chips by winning the hand, you were in a race situation, and to go out on the bubble on a coin flip isnt the best choice.

[Lytspeed]

Generally, when a tournament is on the bubble, the remaining players tighten up pretty hard. Consequently, if someone raises UTG, you can probably bet on them on having a pretty good hand (though I wouldn't put them on 22, like your opponent had.) To play aggressively and raise all-in at that point with AQ was probably not the best move unless you were sure you had the nuts. Specifically, trying to power one's way to the chip lead while the table is on the bubble is not recommended.

In general, I try to walk very carefully around the bubble. After that, when everyone is in the money, there's more room for aggressive play.

[Acorn89]

Originally Posted by Lytspeed

In general, I try to walk very carefully around the bubble. After that, when everyone is in the money, there's more room for aggressive play.

I try to do the exact opposite, if my table lets me. If I see people who just want to make the money then I loosen up and steal some pots to build my stack. And then after the bubble brust I tighten up a little bit because I know that other might loosen up in the money so its easy to get paid off.

As for the hand I like the calling idea to, theres no reason to get try to isolate him since there are only two people left and on of them is really short. Then on the flop you can push if you get your ace and probaly double up and if you dont if he checks you can always try to take the pot right there. Calling in postion with a good hand is still as strong if not stronger than raising.

[Arjonius]

What kind of player was the original raiser? If I'm going to risk bubbling when the short stack has less than 2BB and I have four times his chips, I want the odds to be pretty decent in my favor, like a weaker A. How likely was the opening bettor likely to raise with a weaker A?

And what's your style? Since you were called, albeit after some thought, by 22, it would appear that the opponent had you pegged as someone who would push with two unpaired high cards. The argument for pushing includes having fold equity, but if you've been playing in a way such that you'll get into a coin flip on the lesser end, that's IMO an argument for just calling.