Strategy for late buy-in MTT

I've been playing almost entirely 360-seat and 90-seat MTT on Pokerstars and doing fairly well at them. Even when I don't cash, I stay in for a good amount of time. I've tried a few of the regular tournaments and cannot say the same.

My record for staying in one of these regular MTT is 23 minutes, not even half the late buy-in period. I've tried playing loose, I've tried playing tight, I just can't seem to get anything going. I invariably end up all-in with QQ or KK and lose to A9 or something similar. I'm having a very hard time understanding why there is such a huge difference between the two types of tournaments for me.

Is there some strategy I'm not aware of for these tourneys, such as waiting to register until just before the end of the late buy-in period? It's getting very frustrating to start with 3200 players and end up going out in 4500th because of late buy-ins. I had avoided the wait because after an hour the starting stack was going to be pretty short compared to blinds, but at least I'd still be in it.

Or, should I just forget even trying these 1.10, 2.20 tournaments until my bankroll is up to around $100?

By waiting until just before the extended registration period closes, you automatically bypass the first 10 mins or hour or however long it is but then it means you start the tourney with less big blinds than if you'd been there from the beginning. So you don't have to wait as long before making moves because you've started with a much shallower stack anyway - if you're the type of player who finds it hard to stay patient in the early stages of a tourney then waiting until nearer the end of the registration period might suit you. Personally, I would prefer to play from the start time because you have the maximum time to build up a stack.

The QQ or KK vs A9 is an annoying way to duck out of a tourney in the early stages but if you get all your chips in pre-flop then at least you know you got your money in good, if that's any consolation. I find people are more likely to call a shove with A9 in the micro buy-in levels because they think "Hey, it's only $1.10 - who cares?" If you play solid ABC poker then you should prevail over time even if it feels like you're on the receiving end in the short term. Maybe you should try joining a tourney just before the registration period closes and see how you get on, see whether you see an upturn in your fortunes. Eventually you'll see what works best for you.

Thank you. I have been going on the idea that by starting early I could build my chips, but it hasn't panned out. I've tended to play tighter by default ... I'm not the sort to call a 5BB PFR with much anyway and that seems to be the standard opening raise in these things. I seem to do ok with the 10-minute late buy-ins.

I think I will try waiting until only 20-minutes are left or so to buy-in before joining and see if my tighter play will work and if more of the crazy eights have gone out. I really want to get into these big tournaments, let's hope I can figure it out!

In the larger MTTs there are way more chips in play, and during late registration, chips continue to flow into the tournament -- so there is a lot more gambling than in the capped games. It's not uncommon to see the chip leader with a triple or quadruple stack after a few hands.
If you can see some cheap flops with speculative hands, you could end up with a monster, and if top pair is ready to get it all in, you're in great shape. That is why I don't like to register late at all.
It can be boring if you don't have hands to play for the first half hour, but be patient -- big stacks at this stage do not necessarily indicate good players; you will get your chance.

As for your bankroll management, with less than $100, $2.20 is probably too expensive. If you're doing well at the 360s and 90s, stick with those for a while and build your roll. Also, you'll get a lot more experience with bubble, shorthanded, and final table play -- so when you do go deep in a big one, you'll have an edge over a lot of the other players.

I hadn't considered this advantage to sticking with the smaller tourneys. I have gotten a LOT of bubble experience lately ... mostly in how to mismanage my stack and lose but also getting better at picking steals. I hit at or near the bubble in almost every 90-man I play so perhaps I should focus on that right now and not get distracted.

Also, thank you for reminding me that my bankroll is not prepared for 2.20 ... it's sooo easy to say 'oh, just one to try it out' when it will take me two days to rebuild that 2.20 ...

If you're only are in there for 23 min. Then I don't think you're playing tight because unless it's a super turbo you shouldn't have moved you're stack in unless you have had AA or KK.

You should be very aware of your position if you are in early shove with KK and AA in late posistin go for the reraise, and still go for the set even with AA, KK they are not that strong after a wet flop. If you're calling / raising late leave at the flop if you miss, don't go for the draw's early as that can cost you a lot if you miss.