how much to loosen up during bubble?

[bigchips HI]

This has been something I have been tweaking with ever since I learned basic mtt strategy. All the books and all the pros advocate loosening up your game to try and accumulate some chips to make the FT and putting yourself in a spot to take 1st place.

but it seems the looser I play during money bubble and/or FT bubble, I end up busting myself out when I run into some kind of a real hand, or run my stack down getting carried away with stealing. Hardly does it ever work in my favor and result in me accumalating a chip stack.

I guess that leads me to a series of questions

1. Is that statement (loosen up during bubble play) as true today as it was 4 or 5 years ago? when most feared the bubble and missing out on a chance to cash.

Today it seems like the majority of players are using the lag bubble strategy as well with plays like steals, resteals, re-resteals, stop and go's, squeeze plays, and the how many other plays. really makes it hard to play loose on the bubble when 5+ players on your table are using these strategies as well.

2. the difference between live big mtt's, and daily online mtts bubble play? winning your few thousand dollars + some change back compared to not even doubling your $1-$100 buyin...

3. with online mtt's aggressive bubble play, is it better to play patient and wait for solid hand values to accumulate chips. I have railed a few online pros who use this strategy, all of which have tons of success in online mtts.

4. when does bubble play start for you? what levels and what stages, FT bubble, money bubble, a certain blind level?

5. how much do you loosen up and what strategies do you change from early mtt play? What are your goals now?