As the game approaches the money bubble, many players start to hesitate:<\/span>
\u2192 Should I be conservative and wait for the money to come in?
\u2192 Or should we seize the opportunity to attack?<\/span>

But the real question is: in this situation, who is bearing the greatest pressure?<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/header>

Key conclusion: Bubble = ICM (Internal Compression of Mutual Disequilibrium) - Maximum Stress Imbalance<\/h3>
During the bubble period:<\/span>
1. Elimination = 0 prize money
2. Survival = at least making it into the money-making circle
3. Players are extremely unwilling to take risks.<\/span><\/p>
This creates a large number of exploitable wrong decisions.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/section>
Three types of player mindsets (key)<\/h3>
1. People who want to get into the money-making world (the majority)<\/strong><\/span>
\u2192 Extremely conservative<\/span><\/p>
2. Players with no pressure (large stacks)<\/strong><\/span>
\u2192 Can apply intense pressure<\/span><\/p>
3. Short code (no refund)<\/strong><\/span>
\u2192 We must find an opportunity to go all in.<\/span><\/p>
The essence of a bubble period is an asymmetry of pressure.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/section>
Classic bubble scenario<\/h3>
1. 101 people remain, 100 of whom will enter the money-making circle.
2. You have a medium stack (25BB)
3. BTN folds to you (CO)
4. You got K\u2666 9\u2666<\/span><\/p>
Question: Should you start or fold?<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/section>
flawed thinking: excessive conservatism<\/h3>
Many players will:
<\/span>\u2192 Afraid of being eliminated
\u2192 Want to wait to get into the money circle
\u2192 Give up the opportunity to attack<\/span><\/p>
Result: A significant amount of EVs were missed.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/section>
Correct thinking: Selective attack<\/h3>
In this context:
<\/span>\u2192 Secondary advantage (CO)
\u2192 Pressure on blind players
\u2192 The opponent doesn't want to be eliminated
\u2192 You have room to steal the blind<\/span><\/p>
Conclusion: We should attack (either at the start or by applying immediate pressure).<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/section>
Three core strategies during the bubble period<\/h3>
1. Applying pressure to the weak<\/strong><\/span>
\u2192 Attack players who don't want to be eliminated<\/span><\/p>
2. Avoid high-risk collisions<\/strong><\/span>
\u2192 Especially for large stakes<\/span><\/p>
3. Expand the scope of blind theft.<\/strong><\/span>
\u2192 Take advantage of Fold Equity<\/span><\/p><\/section>
Differences in different chip strategies<\/h3>
Big chips<\/strong><\/span>
\u2192 Proactive attack (greatest advantage)<\/span><\/p>
Middle chips<\/strong><\/span>
\u2192 Most difficult to play (requires precise selection)<\/span><\/p>
Short code<\/strong><\/span>
\u2192 Look for opportunities to double your money (Push\/Fold)<\/span><\/p><\/section>
Most common mistakes during the bubble period<\/h3>
1. Not playing cards at all
2. Excessive fear of being eliminated
3. Daring not to steal from the blind
4. Attacking the wrong opponent<\/span><\/p>
The biggest mistake during a bubble is not daring to utilize pressure.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/section>
Advanced Strategy: ICM Exploit<\/h3>
Experts' Gathering:
<\/span>\u2192 Applying intense pressure on the Chinese code
\u2192 Cautious countermeasures against short codes
\u2192 Precise Blind Stealing
\u2192 Controlling risks<\/span><\/p>
The bubble period is the stage where the gap is most easily widened.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/section>
Core Decision Conclusions<\/h3>
During a bubble, the question isn't whether to be conservative or aggressive, but rather "who to attack."<\/strong><\/span><\/p>
Once you understand the flow of pressure, you can reliably accumulate shares.<\/span><\/p><\/section>
Specific Scenario Retrospective: Key Decisions in Different Situations<\/h3>
Certain scenarios can drastically alter decision-making logic, such as tournament pressure, chip depth, positional structure, range matchups, and betting patterns.<\/p>
When you enter different situations, the correct approach isn't just about looking at your hand, but about understanding the overall context. The following specific scenarios and core themes are key to influencing wins and losses and long-term profitability:<\/p>
I. Special Scenarios in the Championship<\/h4>
[ICM Pressure] How to make decisions in the ICM tournament scenario?<\/a>
[Bubble Phase] Should we be aggressive or conservative during the Bubble phase?<\/a>
[Final Table] How should key moves be handled?<\/a>
[Short Code Strategy] How should Short Stack be typed?<\/a>
[Deep Stack Strategy] What are the differences in how Deep Stack is played?<\/a>
[Blind Stealing Strategy] How to consistently steal blinds in tournaments?<\/a>
\u3010Stealing Blinds vs. Counter-Stealing Blinds\u3011Strategies for Countering Blinds in the Bubble Phase<\/a>
[Middle Chip Dilemma] Why is the middle chip the hardest to beat?<\/a>
[Pressure Transfer] How to transfer ICM pressure to the opponent?<\/a>
[Final Table Mindset] How to go from the final table to the championship?<\/a>
[Chip Management] How to control risk and avoid collapse?<\/a>
[Complete Tournament Strategy] The entire process from entry to victory<\/a><\/p>
II. Core of the Underlying Strategy<\/h4>
[Position Advantage] How to play in different positions? A complete analysis of BTN \/ CO \/ SB \/ BB<\/a>
[Range Thinking] Why do expert players look at the range instead of their hand?<\/a>
[3-bet strategy] When should you raise your bet? How to counter your opponent's opening?<\/a>
How does bet sizing affect your EV?<\/a>
[Betting Line] How to design a complete Flop \/ Turn \/ River Line?<\/a>
Fold Equity: How can you win without showing your cards?<\/a><\/p>
III. Practical Decision-Making After the Cards Are Flipped<\/h4>
[C-bet Strategy] When should you continue betting?<\/a>
[Turn Strategy] Should we fire the second shot?<\/a>
[River Decision] Should the last street be Value or Bluff?<\/a>
When should you retaliate?<\/a>
[Blocker Application] What is a blocking sign? How does it influence decision-making?<\/a>
[Range Shrinking] How to understand your opponent's range step by step?<\/a><\/p>
IV. Advanced Competition and Professional Mindset<\/h4>
[Exploit Strategy] How to achieve stable profits for different player types?<\/a>
[GTO vs Exploit] How to choose in actual combat?<\/a>
[Result Bias] Why do I still lose even when I guess correctly?<\/a>
[Decision-making process] How do experts make the right decisions quickly?<\/a>
Why does overconfidence actually lead to more losses?<\/a>
[Emotional Management] How to avoid Tilt?<\/a>
How to establish a stable profit-making mindset for long-term EV (Electronic Vehicle) businesses?<\/a><\/p>
V. Common Hand Issues and Practical Problems<\/h4>
[All-in Decision] When should you go all in?<\/a>
[Missed Card] What should I do if I missed?<\/a>
[Slow Play Judgment] When should you slow play?<\/a>
Why do expert players rarely play marginal hands?<\/a>
[Key Fold] When should you fold?<\/a><\/p>
VI. Basics for Beginners and Traffic Sources<\/h4>
[Starting Hand Strategy] A Complete Guide for Beginners<\/a>
Texas Hold'em Rules: Complete Gameplay Tutorial (2026 Latest Version)<\/a>
[Poker Card Rankings] Card Rankings and Comparison Rules<\/a>
Texas Hold'em Terminology: A Complete Guide from Beginner to Advanced Players<\/a>
How to win money in Texas Hold'em? A complete analysis of the thought process.<\/a><\/p>
Different scenarios require entirely different decision-making logic. From tournament pressure and chip depth to position, range, and post-flop strategy, each situation demands a different framework for thinking. When you can systematically understand these specific situations, you're no longer just playing by feel, but truly establishing a sustainable and profitable decision-making system.<\/em><\/p><\/section><\/section><\/article>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The bubble stage is the most stressful and strategically valuable phase in Texas Hold'em tournaments, where the Independent Chip Model (ICM) can drastically alter players' decisions. This article delves into the core logic of whether to be aggressive or conservative during the bubble, explaining the optimal strategies for different stack sizes (large, medium, and short) under pressure, and how to exploit opponents' fears to steal blinds and exploit. Mastering bubble stage strategies will significantly improve your cash rate and long-term EV.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6293,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,2235],"tags":[1809,1791,1790,1293,381,841,454,11,1805,1096,1808,1789],"class_list":["post-6292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1","category-texas-holdem-hand-review","tag-bubble-poker","tag-icm-pressure","tag-icm","tag-poker-ev","tag-poker-strategy","tag-texas-holdem-strategy","tag-tournament-poker","tag-11","tag-1805","tag-1096","tag-1808","tag-1789"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hunter.poker\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hunter.poker\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hunter.poker\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hunter.poker\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hunter.poker\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6292"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/hunter.poker\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6292\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11634,"href":"https:\/\/hunter.poker\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6292\/revisions\/11634"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hunter.poker\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hunter.poker\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hunter.poker\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hunter.poker\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

V. Common Hand Issues and Practical Problems<\/h4>[All-in Decision] When should you go all in?<\/a>[Missed Card] What should I do if I missed?<\/a>[Slow Play Judgment] When should you slow play?<\/a>Why do expert players rarely play marginal hands?<\/a>[Key Fold] When should you fold?<\/a><\/p>