Rebuy tournament strategy - start playing post-break?

[Ulysses]

Here's the scenario.

$49 entry fee gets you 500 chips. Unlimited $20 rebuys (if you're under 500) get you 500 add'l chips each until the break. One $40 add-on at the break for 1000 add'l chips (anyone can get this). Normally about 40 players. First place is usually $1300 or so, ninth place is usually $120 or so. Blinds start at 60-120 after the break.

In the rebuy period, lots of players gamble w/ any two cards. Very common to see three or four players all-in during a hand. Most players rebuy two or three times. Most players buy the add-on.

Median stack post-break is probably about 1500. Chip leaders probably have 6000+. Someone suggested the following strategy. Any merit to it?

Buy in. $49. Muck all hands 'til the break. This leaves you with about 300 chips. Rebuy for $20. Add-on for $40. Start playing after the break w/ 1800 or so chips.

[Greg (FossilMan)]

The opponents are playing poorly, and this person's advice is to sit out? I usually like to play in games where people are making poor decisions, not avoid those games.

If you want to reduce your variance, stick to playing hands that do well in these wild, multiway pots, and which can flop big. Any pair is good if the price to see the flop isn't too high, as you can flop a set or muck. Big suited aces are good too. And, of course you play AA, KK, and QQ, right?

Just play good poker given what your opponents are doing. Make decisions that give you +EV, and rebuy whenever you qualify (and as soon as you qualify). The only reason to sit out is if there is a great side game you want to play in during the rebuy period. And if it's that good, you should probably sit out the entire tourney anyway.

Later, Greg Raymer (FossilMan)