I never let myself get less than 7 or 8 BBs, and tend to push on 10.
I tend to push in a open pot in any position apart from UTG with any PP > 4s and any Ace and KT or higher, also maybe QJ, QT or JT but this depends on my table.
But as with all things, this is just a guideline and depends on many factors such as tournament structure, payouts, general table feel etc.
if i,m short i,ll push any unopened pot in mid/late pos any 2 will do, and in any pos have a hand that could hit a flop i,e suited conns or any 2 broadway and any ace (remember 5,6off is,nt that big a dog against a,k or any other unpaired hand thats gona call)
it's all about how your hand holds against a range that will call you...
did you know that 87sooted has the most equity against AA?
if you are in late pos with <10bb, the BB and sb will call pretty light if stacked cos they know you are pushing a massive range....
if you use pokerstove you can gauge when to push / fold if you can guesstimate your opponents calling ranges...
so if your opponent is on BB with 10bbs and its folded to you on sb with 10bb, you can prob put him on a tight calling range (top 10%)
if you have 67sooted:
equity win tie pots won pots tied
Hand 0: 33.233% 32.78% 00.45% 1185555436 16263598.00 { 76s, 76o }
Hand 1: 66.767% 66.32% 00.45% 2398303416 16263598.00 { 22+, AQs+, KQs, AJo+, KQo }
you have 30% equity if he calls, and lots of Fold equity...
if he has a big stack, you can widen his calling range to include trashy aces, any broadways etc...
equity win tie pots won pots tied
Hand 0: 36.570% 36.16% 00.41% 3486793436 39894580.00 { 76s, 76o }
Hand 1: 63.430% 63.02% 00.41% 6077113532 39894580.00 { 22+, A2s+, KTs+, QTs+, JTs, A2o+, KTo+, QTo+, JTo }
give yourself an ace 5 and you have lots of equity against his massively wide range (and lots of Fold Equity if he is a nit)
equity win tie pots won pots tied
Hand 0: 43.872% 37.39% 06.48% 3165509712 548515124.00 { A5s, A5o }
Hand 1: 56.128% 49.65% 06.48% 4203091016 548515124.00 { 22+, A2s+, KTs+, QTs+, JTs, A2o+, KTo+, QTo+, JTo }
obviously it's better to never let yourself get to the state where you have no fold equity (maybe 10bbs).. player reads are important as knowing who is nitty and will prob fold to a shove can make you a lot of chips.
Shove in an open pot and your chances of picking up the blinds are good.
If you get called hopefully your at least 2 to 1.
You need to get your chips in when you still have enough to cause some significant damage to a bigger stack.
If you wait for your big hand with a 5xBB stack, remember that your big stacked opponent is possiblly at least 2 to 1 also to dump you out when he calls...and then you're sick about a bad beat?
Get in when the situation is right, youre first to act -and if you're very low any two cards will do.
hope this helps