When do you push in with that short stack in a tourney?
 

When you're running on fumes in a tourney, when is it a must to get your chips in?

What I mean is, at what stack size is it optimal to get them in. If you wait too long, doubling up is still gonna leave you hurting.

So what's your formula? 5 X BB? 6 X BB?

It's not quite as simple as that, of course (is anything in poker?), but I think 3-4 x BB is when it's time to pick a spot and push in. If you get any lower, it's not that doubling up won't help you enough, but rather you are less likely to get everyone to fold and pick up the blinds.

This is the point of desperation. People either play until they are blinded to death, or they start pushing when they have ANYTHING appealing. Do not just get blinded to death. Pushing your whole stack with a non-premium hand sucks, because if you run into someone with a good hand, then you're likely out of the tournament. But always remember that aggression pays off at NL holdem. You're in a better situation if you push around that remaining stack, as opposed to just sitting on it.

You have to decide what you want to accomplish. Since your tournament stack is dwindling, then you need to start picking up the blinds to build your roll. When you push all in, you want people to fold. Especially in these situations. You are only looking to pick up the blinds here, because you are raising with a sub-premuim hand.

If it gets to the point where I have 5-6xBB, then I will start pushing with anything reasonable. Any 2 paint cards, any pair, etc.

Back to your original question, I don't have a forumla. It depends on my stack size, and my opponents stack sizes. Say I'm in a NL tournament, and the average stack is 3500. Blinds are 100/200 with a 25 ante, and I'm sitting on 1100 chips. I have to start making a decision soon, because as people get eliminated, the big stacks only get bigger. When you get down to 700 or 800 (and you go all in), these big stacks will call you with suited Kings, Ace-blank, and QJos. See what I mean? They aren't scared of 700 chips, especially when they smell an all-in blind steal because your back's against the wall. You want your raise to make the other person think: "Shit. I have him covered, but if I call here AND LOSE, then I just lost a chunk."

Note: This could all be wrong - but that's just how I see it.

you cant have some set in stone guideline here.

the most important thing is what both TP and Lou have touched on. you have to be able to get people to fold to your all in. if all you have is 2 BB, then you are probably going to get called, and that generally isnt what you want. you have to be willing to get agressive with marginal hands, but they will provide you with your best chance of surviving in the tourney.

i would assume that this point will be around 5 BB, but you will have to gauge this by the table dynamics.

It is somewhat implied in some of the other posts, but using position becomes very critical at this point. Say there are five people left, and your the shortstack. I would take a risk with a much lesser hand on the dealer button before I would push with A or K-any just to the left of the big blind. If I'm short and on the button, and everyone folds to me I'm probably making a move with just about anything. If you run into a hand, so be it. Probably not going to get another opportunity like that. I'm no pro, but I play every day and using position rather than cards when I'm short has consistently worked for me.