In this article I am going to look at one of the less discussed stages of a poker tournament. While correct endgame strategy presents us with a wealth of discussion, this is usually focused on one of two narrower areas – bubble play and final- table play. But this leaves out perhaps the most important stage: the period of play between the bubble bursting and the final table starting. Once the bubble passes, the tournament enters a crucial stage in which we need to position ourselves to take down the big money.

Much has been written about how play tends to tighten up around the money bubble of a tournament.