Tournament Navigating Bubble Dynamics in PLO Tournaments Owen Gaines Owen Gaines is a professional poker player and author who has played an estimated ten million hands and written four poker strategy books. June 10, 2025 Successfully navigating the bubble in PLO is about finding the right balance between caution and assertivenessIn Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) tournaments, the bubble phase—the period just before players reach the money—is one of the most critical stages of play. Decisions made during this stretch can have a significant impact on your overall result. Navigating this period effectively requires not only understanding the mathematical side of PLO but also recognizing the psychological pressure that influences player behavior. Unlike No-Limit Hold’em, PLO hands run much closer in equity, which makes all-ins more volatile. Because of that, players often tighten up around the bubble to avoid busting before securing cash. This creates an opportunity for well-timed aggression. If you have a healthy stack, this is the time to pressure shorter stacks and accumulate chips. Look for players who seem hesitant to play hands or who are clearly trying to fold into the money. Raising into these spots—especially from late position—can yield a steady stream of pots without showdown.On the other hand, if you’re short-stacked, your goal should be survival without becoming too passive. That means avoiding unnecessary risks but staying aware of your fold equity and position. You may need to take a stand when you have fold equity or a strong multi-way hand. Being overly cautious could result in being blinded out or losing the ability to push others off hands.Another important aspect of bubble play in PLO is reading your table. Identify who is likely to gamble and who is protecting their stack. Adjust your strategy based on their tendencies. If you’re sitting near someone with a deep stack and they’re playing aggressively, you may need to tighten up. But if the table is full of players just looking to sneak into the money, it’s often right to take advantage.