[J.A.K.]

[ QUOTE ]
Afterwards I thought I played this badly. Why on earth would I raise at all? I was 3rd chip-wise with a big gap to the short stacks. A raise just has the potential to put myself into trouble... I think I should have folded pf, but I'm not sure.

[/ QUOTE ]

Cause you want to win the tourney.
Because there is ~80% chance that the remaining players do not have a higher pair.
Because you are on the $ bubble + stack dynamics.
Because you are flipping against reasonable ranges from the shorties getting ~1.5(or more) to 1.

I probably raise to 1000-1200 looking to call a push from one of the 4k or less stacks. With the table layout, if MP1 shoves and one of the blinds call (or both blinds get it in), I am pretty confident I am beat and can let go. I think I would rather raise and MAKE things happen than limp and HOPE things happen. Folding is weak tight (especially in this situation) but not unheard of.