Important, yet often ignored strategy question

[ZeeJustin]

When are the good/bad times to buy into live tournaments? This answer obviously depends on many factors, so feel free to discuss those. I'm especially interested in how specific casinos like Bellagio, Foxwoods, and Borgata differ in their table opening policies.

Obviously, the goal is to end up with as many satellite players and other complete donks at your table as possible, and the least amount of pros as possible.

Generally, the worst time to buy in to a tournament is after it starts; not because you miss out on hands, but because you end up at a table with lots of direct buyin players that haven't been looking forward to this tournament for weeks (read: pros).

BTW, if you don't think this is an important question, you are dead wrong. It makes a very significant difference in your overall tournament equity.