question on toruneys with crappy structure

[bobbywithani 0]

Ok Ive begun playing in live tourneys around town. I'm not really a tournament player, but I kind of have to play them if I want any action in the side games later. Well the one last nite was $100 dolar buy-in with 100 people in, top ten get paid, and the blind structure sucks. I'm right above average with 8000 in chips, but blinds are 500-1000. My only question is do I play the same way I would being shortacked in a tourney with an otherwise decent blind structure, meaning push with pairs AT and such, or how should I play? I really hate "waiting for the small stacks to get knocked out, but would this have been an optimal play. Specific hand in question was, folded to me on the button and I look down on pocket 3s, is that a push or a fold?

[copernicus 0]

Everyone is feeling stack pressure except maybe a few giant stacks, and there are going to be a lot of attempts to pick up those valuable blinds. When you have a legitimate hand there is no room for long plays, so just push it.Here, with a hand that most likely is no worse than a small favorite and first in vigorish I think its an easy push. Look to play a lot of hands when youre first in, unless someone behind you is sitting with only 2 or 3 BBs and almost forced to call, especially from the blinds.