Tight or Loose?

How do you guys usually play in the early stages of a multitable tournament, let's say of 500+ ppl of a $10 buy in -- do you actively play a lot of pots for cheap, hoping to score big on some beginner players. or would you prefer playing really tight, and save your chips for the intermediate stage?

I generally play TAG early on but like to play things like suited connectors, Ax suited and such on the cheap or if I have position.

Here's a very well written strategic article on MTT's
The Official KC Strategy

almost always i play tight. however, occasionally ill call with suited connectors and hope to hit a monster. but you cannot play the same style the whole time because people will catch on, you have to vary your play. if your table image is nonexistant, just play really tight and play premium hands, and you will generally get paid off.

if you cant play all styles you will not succeed in this game. Tight is almost always right early then steal when the blinds are worth stealing.

I consider myself a TAG early on unless tilt gets me or I get tired of the opponents shinnagins. Basicly pick and choose you play and change up work well according to situation. Hardest thing to learn is somestimes folding AA, KK is the best thing to do.

Depends mostly on table dynamics imo,TAG table im LAG,LAG table im TAG.
But come to think of it i guess im LAG more often. Big stack at the break or go out early

For early stages, you definitely don't want to be risking your stack on bs, but because of the small blinds, you can afford to play things like suited connectors and low pockets hoping to hit big on the flop. If you do, you will cash in big and if you don't hit, they are easy to lay down.

i always play very tight,im still a new player and dont like to go out early,although i may take a big risk if i firmly believe i have the best hand.

i play my hands.. dont go overly aggresive.. its not necesary.. just play the pots you would... but dont be too tight..

Just play the way that feels right, keep check on average and chip leader through out game play. You do not want to fall too far behind by playing too tight. Some sites do seem to award the guy with the bigger chip stack, no matter what you or they have.

the best way to play early is tight when the blinds are low so that when you catch a hand you have kept enough chips to make your double up actually worth something.

I usually play tight in the early stages of a game. Unless of course it's a freeroll...Then I go donk hunting. I guess it's good to have a minimum post requirement on this site...Most donks won't take the time to make 50 posts.

I definitely play a little looser but try to use position, but I am also alot better at playing after the flop and getting away from hands where others may not. So really I'd judge how you should play by your experience and comfortability playing post flop pots and putting people on hands.

I try to play the table.

Loose and weak or tight and aggressive table play more drawing hands in late position.
Tight and weak table play a bit more aggressive in position.
Loose and aggressive table play tight and try to trap.