Newbie Question about Online NLHE Tourneys

Hey all!
I definitely still have a lot to learn about being a decent poker player, however I've played and won some tourneys here and there.
My question/scenario I'd like advice on is what to do when I become chip leader at my tourney table, and have near a ton of chips compared to the rest of the tournament itself.
I was playing in PokerStar's $200K tourney earlier today, amassed a stack of nearly 9K chips within the first 20 minutes or so. At that point, my tourney position was like 2486 out of 25K+ people, and I had atleast three times the avg. chip stack.
Normally, I like to sit out for some time while all the maniacs weed themselves out, but seeing how this tourney demanded a bigger buyin, I made the mistake of sitting in.
Despite playing super tight (playing only Top 10 starting hands), I followed what seemed to be a good hand to the river, where I was pwned by the smaller stack (who raised all-in).
So, given my situation, would it be better next time to sit out a few rounds or so?
Thanks. It was my first tourney where the prize pool was over 10K (lol), but I won the seat through a freeroll satelite, so I didn't lose any money. Well, except for what I could've won.

Thanks again for any advice that I'll humbly accept!

Oh forgot to add, needless to say, I didn't sit out with my large stack, rather kept playing and lost it all to bad beats.
People were calling all-in with absolutely nothing only to get straights or flushes on the turn/river.
So should I just sit out after amassing a lot of chips?

Thanks

No, don`t sit out, Gnomey. Quite the opposite. If you have a comfortable stack, say 50 or more Big Blinds, you can afford to play a little looser than usual and see more flops from late position.

If you miss the flop, or if a player behind you raises, you can let go of the hand in the knowledge that you have not lost any significant part of your stack.

However, if you play (for example) small pairs looking for a set, or connectors looking for the straight and you hit, you stand to win a big pot and increase your stack still further.

I moved this to learning poker where it will get more attention.

When I have accumulated a large number of chips compared to the table, I become a nit. What I mean by that is I will still make my normal raises and c-bets but once I get a caller or two and I have missed the flop, I slow way down and will fold to aggression.
No need to bleed your chips off when you haven't hit the flop or have a monster draw. Because you have such a large stack, you can afford to wait for the right opportunity.
Also, when you do hit your hand, DO NOT SLOW PLAY. There are enough calling stations that will pay you off and chase their four outter, but make them pay for it.
I would not recommend sitting out as you lose the opportunity to add to your chip count. Just play super tight during the first few blind levels. And tight also means post flop. Just because your AK are overcards to a 2-8-9 board, doesnt mean you have the best hand.

Thank you all so much for your advice and insight!

I do have another question.

When would be a good time (if ever) to sit out for any period of time in a online tournament?

Thanks

Sometimes it is unavoidable, if the real world intervenes, but there is no good time to do that.

If you are a good player and have an edge over your opponents, that edge only works for you when you play, not when you sit out.

If you don`t have an edge, study and practice until you do. You gain no useful experience by sitting out.

The only slight exception would be on the bubble in satellite tournaments. For example, if you are in a tourney where ten players win a ticket to the final, there are eleven players left and you are chipleader, you would probably be wise to play no hands. Even pocket Aces may be beaten and, if you do nothing, it is a near certainty that somebody else will bust out before you. Since tenth place wins the same prize as first, you have no need to defend your first place.

The first part of this made me laugh because for a second... i thought I WROTE IT! LOL I too become QUITE a nit when I am on the big stack... I am not sure I agree with the rest (except the folding to aggression business - that is RIGHT ON cause I have this nasty tendency to call aggression BAD MOVE!!!!! Just because you CAN cover a player... does NOT mean you SHOULD!! LOL).

soemone earlier mentioned loosening up and I tend to do better when I do that (TO A POINT OF COURSE).

But honestly, I know exactly what you are talking about... I personally think sitting out a few rounds IS NOT A BAD IDEA!! Especially if you know you are gonna get screwed... (and it almost Always happens doesn't it???) That way you can go back... relaxed and without a bunch of early game baggage adn get down to the business of playing poker. but with a clearer head and without the pressure of thinking OH I got the big stack I SHOULD or SHOULD NOT do A. B. or C. (pick your particular poison).

I don't know about the rest of you but I DO have a problem closing the deal when i get a big stack... I have a tough time bullying and sometimes you kind of need to... I have found that if I cannot be a bully then I just get bullied myself and so honestly... sometimes sitting out is a better option.

Just my 2 pennies (I do hope the buy in is not more than that... LOL)

can someone please explain what having a big stack early in a tourney means? Just kidding . Those incredibly rare occurrences do pop up once in a while.

My strategy when this occurs is
1- play more hands and hope the smaller stacks push their draws against my made hands.
2- play all pairs
3- play all suited connectors and suited cards with aces/kings then outplay the smaller stacks preflop

do whatever I can do to keep building my stack up. Last thing you want is to have your big stack dwindle to average as you sit on your you know what waiting for premium hands (they just don't come around enough)

This strategy is laid out pretty simply but should be enough to help propel you to either a good position when the bubble is reached (steal, steal, steal ) or out early (then you can go do something more productive than starting at a computer to make $10 in profit - not that I've done than before- OK maybe I have )

As far as sitting out life interfering is really the only reason you should sit out or like a previous poster said if you are in a tourney where x get the same prize and you are COMFORTABLY in the $ group with just a couple of bust outs to go. Of course you may want to get close to the mouse as "someone is gotta knock that bubble boy/girl out"