Hi, guys. This is the first hand that I've put up here, so I hope that I've got the format right. I was just wondering if I could get some comments on my play here. This was in a low buy-in($5) MTT at Pokerstars that was a couple minutes into the second level. I won the pot, but I have this nagging feeling that it was a bit of a loose play for this early in the tournament. Part of the trouble is that I just don't know how much survival should play in making a decision in a large field tourney. I know I would have done this in a ring game, because I was getting the pot odds, but I don't know if it was too loose for a MTT. So anyway, let me know what you think. The call on the flop is what I'm mainly concerned with, but if you want to comment on the preflop call you can. Thanks,

Nate

Seat 1: UTG+1 (2500 in chips)
Seat 2: Hero (1740 in chips)
Seat 3: MP1(2470 in chips)
Seat 4: MP2 (1510 in chips)
Seat 5: CO (1070 in chips)
Seat 6: OTB(1880 in chips)
Seat 7: SB (1890 in chips)
Seat 8: BB (390 in chips)
Seat 9: UTG (1670 in chips)
bison12: posts small blind 15
nbtwine: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to maxwn917 [Kd Qd]
UTG: folds
UTG+1: raises 60 to 90
Hero: calls 90
MP1: calls 90
MP2: folds
CO: folds
OTB: folds
SB: folds
nbtwine: calls 60
*** FLOP *** [3h Ad 4d]
BB: checks
UTG+1: bets 120
Hero: calls 120
MP1: raises 2260 to 2380 and is all-in
BB: folds
UTG+1: calls 2260
Hero: calls 1530 and is all-in
*** TURN *** [3h Ad 4d]
*** RIVER *** [3h Ad 4d 8d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
UTG+1: shows [Jd Ah] (two pair, Aces and Fours)
MP1: shows [Kc As] (two pair, Aces and Fours - King kicker)
MP1 collected 1460 from side pot
Hero: shows [Kd Qd] (a flush, Ace high)
Hero collected 5325 from main pot

BTW, I'm still in the tourney as of this posting, so wish me luck. This gave me an early chip lead, so hopefully I will not squander it.

Hmm.... Well, if you think that winning this pot will put you in position to win the tourney, then I say you should definately do it. I mean, you're getting decent odds on it.

Here's the thing, I think this is a good play as long as you do it every time in that situation. Building a stack is crucial at that stage in the tournament, and there are two ways to do it. Gambling, like you did. And play solid, which normally keeps you as the short-stack near the bubble.

The trick to winning tournaments isn't just the strategy. It's REPEATING that strategy. If you do it one time and approx 1 in 3 times it will give you the stack needed to get far, then you aren't letting it "pan out". Therefore, there's a good chance that you will never get to cash in on that.

Whatever your strategy is, it's important that you KEEP doing it.

Here's an example:
You're playing heads or tales, ten dollars per flip, once it hits the same side twice in a row, you win 100 dollars. Now obviously this is a good deal. BUT what if you flip it 4 times and haven't won yet? Do you quit?

No the fuck way!

Eventually, you're going to make an assload of money of this.

I know I've went way off topic here. I dunno. Maybe it's all useless info. Oh well.

CONCLUSION:
Yes, that's a good play if you think winning will give you the chip stack you need to get far. BUT, don't play just by results. If you're gonna do that in that situation (Average stack facing a chance to triple up), then you should do it every time!

Yep