How Aggressive Should You Be on the Bubble?

[Bawse]

I think bubble play is one of the most misunderstood parts of tournament poker. The correct level of aggression depends heavily on stack sizes, payout structure, and how the rest of the table is playing.

If you have a big stack, it's often a great opportunity to apply pressure on medium stacks that are trying to ladder into the money. However, if you're a medium stack yourself, you need to be more selective because busting before the money can be costly.

Short stacks usually can't afford to blind away waiting for a min-cash, so there are times when taking a profitable shove is better than trying to survive a few more spots.

Do you tend to ramp up the aggression on the bubble, or do you tighten up and focus on securing a cash? What factors influence your decision the most?