The difference between the 25/50 blind level and the 50/100 level

[splashpot]

Here are 2 hands where I have more than 10xBB, but I feel like the only good play is to push:

PartyPoker, Big Blind is t50 (8 handed) Converter on pregopoker.com

UTG (t695)
UTG+1 (t853)
MP1 (t422)
MP2 (t1955)
Hero (t660)
Button (t1360)
SB (t990)
BB (t1065)

Preflop: Hero is in CO with A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]
<font color="gray">UTG folds</font>, <font color="gray">UTG+1 folds</font>, <font color="gray">MP1 folds</font>, <font color="gray">MP2 folds</font>, <font color="red">Hero t660 (All-in)</font>

And this hand happened one orbit later. Note that the blinds go up to 50/100 next hand.

PartyPoker, Big Blind is t50 (8 handed) Converter on pregopoker.com

UTG (t990)
UTG+1 (t770)
MP1 (t1731)
MP2 (t522)
CO (t1880)
Hero (t660)
SB (t482)
BB (t965)

Preflop: Hero is in Button with K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]
<font color="gray">UTG folds</font>, <font color="gray">UTG+1 folds</font>, <font color="gray">MP1 folds</font>, <font color="gray">MP2 folds</font>, <font color="gray">CO folds</font>, <font color="red">Hero t660 (All-in)</font>

Now I'm not so much asking for advice on these hands, but rather to discuss the transition between the 25/50 level and the 50/100 level. In my mind, this is one of the most crucial parts of the Party 800 chipers.

In both of my hands above, I had folded for most of the tournament and this had left me with 660 chips. This size chipstack is fairly common for me at this blind level. At first glance it looks like I have a little over 13xBB. Which seems fine, you know....good for this level, not super desperate.

But when you consider that the blinds go up to 50/100 in a few hands, my situation becomes much more desperate. Instead of 13xBB, I'm left with 6.6xBB. That's a HUGE difference.

25/50 to 50/100. That's a 100% increase. At no other point in the tournament is there such a large increase in blinds percentage wise (aside from 10/15 to 15/30).

This is the main reason why I feel aggressive play is absolutely essential during the 25/50 level. I find myself pushing during this level with 13-15xBB very often. I think that stealing blinds here is much more important than it seems. I think it helps a lot and makes a big difference in preperation for the 50/100 level.