Earning It on the Bubble

June 02, 2025

Today I cashed for $200 in a bounty tournament, and while it might not sound like much, I’m honestly proud of how I played. It wasn’t about running hot, or hitting big hands at the right time. It was about holding my nerve when it mattered most — and that’s where the real growth lives.

The Bubble Phase

I found myself hovering just above the danger zone, with a short stack, watching other players panic or overreach. At one point, I had to fold hands like Ace-Queen, Ace-Jack, and even Ace-King — hands that would normally be slam-dunk jams or calls.

But this wasn’t a normal spot.

This was the ICM bubble.

And one bad decision — one mistimed shove — would’ve meant going home with nothing.

So I waited.

I watched players with bigger stacks than mine throw their tournament lives away with reckless calls and wide shoves, and I reminded myself:

“It’s not about how strong the hand is — it’s about how dangerous the spot is.”

Cashing Through Patience

Eventually, the short stacks busted. The money bubble burst. And I was still alive.

It might have looked passive from the outside, but every fold was a conscious, difficult choice. Every pause, a battle against ego.
It’s not easy folding AK on a short stack.
It’s not easy trusting that survival — not action — is the most profitable move in that moment.

But I did. And it paid off.

The Final Hand

With about 1.5 big blinds left, I picked up a playable hand. I flopped trip threes — a miracle — but got cracked by a straight on the river.

And I was okay with it.

Because I didn’t go out on tilt. I didn’t punt.
I went out knowing I’d played the bubble exactly how I needed to.

Long-Term Perspective

This is where real tournament profit comes from.
Not the flashy bluffs or the wild hero calls — but the quiet, gritty decisions in high-pressure moments:

Folding good hands
Watching others make mistakes
Trusting that the math and timing are on your side

It may not look dramatic. It may even seem boring.

But these are the hands — or non-hands — that build a winning career.

Final Thought

“It may look straightforward, but holding your nerve in those situations is not as easy as it looks.”

This was one of those days where I earned every chip.
And that $200 cash? That’s just the start.