[ZootMurph]

I think there are two competing factors here. First is the fact that chip values diminish as your stack increases. Everyone seems to understand this theory, so no more needs to be said. However, the second is that a great tournament player can play a 'big stack' game now, and that will increase his/her equity. As the great player's stack increases, not only does his equity increase but also his ability to either splash around in more pots and outplay his opponents or push people around and pick up even more chips.

All this being said, a double up on the first hand doesn't really make the player's stack SO big that they can go hog wild with big stack play, so in the example given I'd have to say less than double the starting equity. However, let's say the next hand the player takes someone else's stack. Now he has 30k to the average 10k... Not only has his equity increased, but so to has his leverage. So, another thing to consider besides the player's stack and the average stack is the player's stack compared to the total chips in play. As that ratio increases, the player's leverage within the tournament increases, and thus adds to his equity.

So, in the example given... at a 3 table tournament, his relative equity after doubling up on the first hand is obviously higher than in a 500 person tournament.