This post is kind of a respone to shortmatt's thread of deep 45 play. He basically complained it was a push fest, which is true, with no strategy, which is false.

Early mtt play tight and dont get knocked out.

I prefer to get to final 18 about half the time. (only 45% here is too loose imo)

You have a couple of strategies here:

tight - call and rasie for value

aggressive push- push for fold equity value.

or a combination of both (this is what I use now)or switch strategies depending on chip stacks.

You can go for a big chip lead or be more patient and make your moves 4 handed or so.

Note that both of these strategies are exploitable by the other strategy.

The losers are the ones who play too loose or too tight or get themselves knocked out too early, too often.

My goal on the final two tables is to stick around and get lucky and try to double up.

I believe you can blind yourself lower (correctly) than on pokerstars (most people play the turbos and they have antes). I wont push anytwo until I get to atleast 4bb or b vs b.

I have a couple of threshholds I believe are important (for me)
6k in chips = compete for cash
10k in chips = compete for win
3k in chips is only one double up from competing for cash.
6k in chips is only one double up form competing for win.

My play on the final table is based on my situation.
I like to have the lobby up with the chip counts as that is crucial in my decision making process.
My decision making is based upon my standing in the tourney, my chip count, the blind level, the number of people left, my opponents chips count and the number of people left to act, my image and my opponets image.

There is a lot of strategy here even though your only decision is fold or push or fold or call.

When I get to heads up I generally like to keep the pot small and out play my opponent. This strategy works well in $10 and $24 tourneys and in the $75s I will be more willing to gamble as my opponents are tougher (and they wont let me get away with my small ball strategy).

I think it is important to give yourself the opportunity to get lucky.

Shortmatt there is a lot of strategy here and all you can do is make correct decision. Tonight I made a bad call with 10s and hit a set on the flop to crack Queens. The guy called me an idiot, no I made a bad play. All you can do is try to make good decisions and try to learn from your bad ones. I sure Tommy Angelo would say that is what a poker player should focus on.