at what point?

is there any rules in when during a tournament that a player should sit back and let the small stacks battle it out? what cards should i be looking to play in the first third of a tournament, 2nd third, last third, etc....any advice would be nice. the reason being is that the more chips i seem to collect the braver i appear to become with my starting cards. Thanks for any help

Ok. Here's a guideline I usually follow when I'm in a tournament. The first third of the tournament I play very tight. This is helpful because there is a lot of manic players that go all in on the first three hands. Unless you have pocket kings or pocket aces, don't call them. Let the maniacs wipe themselves out.
The second third I loosed up my play and start playing even K, 8 or Q, 6. At this stage, you should get a feel of certain player's playing styles.
The last third is the toughest. If you are the big stack, start raising and try to push people to fold.
If you are the middle stack, I usually back out when the two shorter stacks go all in unless I have a good hand. You need to be aggressive when you are the big stack.
If you are the short stack, I usually have this stragedy, "Fold or Go All-in." You're not going to win every all-in but you don't have to. You would be able to "steal the blinds" a few times to build your stack a bit. If someone raises pre-flop, I wouldn't go all-in unless I'm confident I got a good hand to go all-in with. For more on this subject, read the articles we have at cardschat.com. Just clikc the articles tab on the top of the page. Hope this helps.

being new to the site i am in the motions of getting a feel for where i should be putting my threads and am sorry if i am a little of course. thanks for the advice on hand playing and am sure i will post more beginners thoughts !!

I don't think there is a set time, I generally adjust to what is happening at the table.

If the short stacks are making moves, then I sit back and let them, if i get a hand i'll play back at them though.

If they are happy to sit back and let me take their blinds though I will be more than happy to oblige.