[triplc]

For your first question, small pairs have more value with many people in the pot, because you will be playing for trips or fold, and with many people in the pot, you are likely to have someone else hit a hand on this type of board(TPTK, two pair, etc.) If it was only the original raiser, I still like to call up to 3XBB, depending upon how much of my stack I'm putting at risk. Hitting trips are where you make a lot of your money in NL SnGs, imho.

I like the flop raise. Big, but not so big that you drive everyone out. The turn bet was far too small. You should have pushed at this point. If he has AKh, you want to make him pay for his draw.

You can't put him on a flush or straight (AK or AQh the only real possibility unless this guy is a superfish), which means there are only two hands that can beat you (AA or KK). I'd put him on AK or AQ. I think you need to count this hand as good. I haven't read the results...can't wait to see.

Play well,

CCC