[etojim]

Somewhere within the answer to that question lays the answer to the real question which is "What is the optimal way to play a big stack between the bubble and the FT?" This has been a real problem for me, because several weeks ago, for whatever reason, in 8/10 big MTT's I played I found myself on the bubble with top ten stack.

I think there are really two seperate issues. The one you raise concerning prize equity, etc. which I'll call "meta-considerations". I think these depend on:

What is my goal? (Win the tourney, FT, certain $ amount)

How big is your stack in relationship to the remaining field (your Q)?

When is the next "mini-bubble"? (next prize increase, FT bubble, etc.)

Then there are the considertions of the moment; how will my big stack at the table I am currently on help me on reach my loftier goals?

Again there are several things to consider:
How big is your stack in relationship to others at the table you are on ?

How long have you been at the table? Do you have a table image? Do you have reads on other players? When will tble break?

What is the real "value" of maintaining a big stack at your tble? Are blinds being folded to you? Do people respect your raises, steals, re-steals? Late in a tourney when blinds are say 5000/10000 this could make a huge difference as everyones M's drift down.

Is there a stack size where you lose this "value"?

Thinking about all of these issues has helped me reach several FT's after I gain a big stack on/shortly after bubble, esp in the pp $50-$100 MTT' the last week or so.