Explanation of Bubble
A bubble arises when only a limited number of players need to be eliminated for the prize pool to be officially reached. During this critical time, players are often hesitant to risk being eliminated since doing so would mean leaving empty-handed. When a player is eliminated in this sensitive phase, it is commonly described as being “ bubbled ” or having “ bubbled out.”
Although the term “ bubble ” is primarily used to describe tournaments right before the prize pool is reached, smaller bubbles can also form during significant changes in payout structure. For instance, if the players finishing in the 61st to 80th positions each receive $50, while those placed between 41 and 60 earn $100, players in 61st place are usually very cautious about getting eliminated. Surviving just one more elimination can lead to a much larger cash prize.
It’s typical to engage in hand-for-hand play during the bubble stage and just before any payout increases occur. (For further details, refer to the entry on hand for hand in the glossary.)
Sentence Example of Bubble: Players with larger stacks can adopt a more aggressive stealing strategy during the bubble because opponents are generally reluctant to confront them until after this critical period has ended.
Incorporating Bubble into Your Poker Strategy
Players with sizable chip stacks often find themselves in a favorable position during bubble situations. Those with smaller stacks typically aim to play conservatively, avoiding unnecessary risks with their chips. It’s a common instinct for players to simply wait until the next pay increase or until the bubble bursts. This strategy is often justified due to ICM (Independent Chip Model) factors, as limited chip ranges become necessary based on the stack sizes in play, which is indicated as being “under ICM pressure.” Those with larger stacks can more aggressively pursue players with shorter stacks as they aren't as concerned about being knocked out.
Short-stacked players may find it necessary to forgo opportunities that would typically be seen as advantageous for increasing chip count because those risks can be detrimental in terms of real money returns due to ICM pressure. For more details on this topic, consult the glossary entry on ICM .
See Also
ICM , Tournament , Hand for Hand , Sit and Go , Angle