Just want to see some other players thoughts and personal opinion and what they do in tourneys and where and when they start being aggressive. I can make it deep in a tourney but a lot of the time I find myself folding in tight spots to the aggressor and chips start to dwindle. should I become more loose and call with second pairs with X, Obviously it is different when you are playing but just want to hear experience and thoughts on it. Thanks guys.
The advice I was given and what has always pretty much worked for me is to begin a tournament tight. Once you've established a tight/aggressive image, and a lot of the maniacs have eliminated themselves, you can take advantage of your TAG image by widening your range slightly. As the blinds increase and the bubble approaches, you might want to tighten back up some, as the short stacks begin shoving. At the same time, you should keep your eyes open and take advantage of chances to steal from players that get nitty tight.
As for calling with second pair, I don't see any problem with it. You have to realize that for a lot of players making a continuation bet is pretty standard. Just because they bet out after the flop doesn't necessarily mean that they've hit the flop. For some players it's a way of feeling you out to try to see where they stand. For others it's simply aggression to try to induce a fold. Some players will slow down once you call them on the flop. Others will continue firing with air. That's why it is important to pay attention to who you are playing with and how they play, so you will know how to respond in these situations.
^^^^this sounds like good advice.
The only addendum I would make to the OP is that I would avoid (until you have built a stack) going overboard coming into pots early...I would not, for example, come in UTG w AA or AK for more than 3x max; that is usually a large chunk of your stack starting out and loons with god-only-knows-what will call anything with anything. I mean, that is where you see them the most, early in the MTT. People mistakenly think AA and AK is going to or should win every time; reality just does not concur.
So, I see many who pop it for 4x-6x (or more!) and get in a situation where they are now pot committed and end up felted after going to war post flop with only one pair or (OMG) two over cards. Save that for when you can afford it and have your opponent covered. Plus, it is a horrible betting tell. When you later limp or min-raise, they know what you
do not have!
Another thing I have heard is that you really need a better hand than one pair (or even two, depending on board texture) before going to war early on (going to war = all in). I see players who just shove post flop with only one pair/top kicker and get nailed by a calling station with a good draw, two (oddball) pairs or a slow played set.
I would also not limp in w AA or AK early. You just allow donkey's a cheap shot at making the nuts on the flop when they limp in behind you. OMG, the guys I have seen limp AA and get smacked early in a MTT. Always to
hands that would most likely have folded to a mere 3x raise pre flop. AA and AK get weaker with each player in the pot because mathematically the chances of someone connecting big with the flop is so much more likely.