Part: Part Ten - Adjusting to Different Stacks

Avoid the stack that covers you

Pre-flop
Blinds 400 / 800 (100 ante)Pot 9,300 (11.6 BB)You: medium • avoid the big stackMPA♣J♣● 18,000 (22.5 BB)YOUyou open to 1,800BTN● 60,000 (75 BB)Big stack3-bets 5,400 (6.8 BB)SB● 18,000 (22.5 BB)posts 400 (0.5 BB)BB● 18,000 (22.5 BB)posts 800 (1 BB)D

You're a medium stack near the bubble. You open A♣J♣ from middle position and the big stack who covers you three-bets from the button.

Medium stack near the bubble; the covering big stack three-bets your open. Best?

WhyFold. Near the bubble you avoid big confrontations with the one player who can bust you. A-J is dominated by much of a re-three-betting range, and getting it in here risks your tournament life for a thin edge. Keep your maneuverable stack and attack the players you cover - not the one who covers you.
What happensYou fold.  Don't tangle with the coverer holding a marginal hand.
As a medium stack you steered clear of the big stack - the player who can end your tournament - rather than risk everything on a dominated hand near the bubble.

Avoid big confrontations with stacks that cover you near the bubble - fold marginal hands rather than risk your tournament life.