Quote Originally Posted by bad_beat_bandit
Blinds start at 2/4 (400 chip each start) and double every time 2 guys bust out, or every 3 orbits if things are going slow. Usually I get to the point where i push 200 when there's 4 left on the table (Blinds 16/32) and the chip leader is at about 800. Should I be pushing a little earlier ??
That sounds like a rather odd blind structure, but that's beside the point.

At any point when you have less than 10x the big blind, play push/fold poker preflop. You have become short stacked to the point that you need to pick up chips to stay alive. You should be making some bluffs in these situations - particularly from late position with no raises (esp if you're not bluffing into the big stack). Here's an example:

It's folded to you on the button with 72o. You have 250 chips. Blinds are 16/32. SB has 400 chips. BB has 550.

As long as these players haven't been calling big bets, this is an excellent opportunity for you. Push. Preflop. They are going to have to commit almost half of their stack to call you. Usually they won't do this. Voila. Now instead of 250 chips, you have 298. Rinse and repeat.

Key points:
1. Any time you're making a move with sub-optimal cards, you want to have as few people limping, no raisers, and mostly moderate stacks as the potential callers.
2. If anyone has limped in, that slightly increases the quality of hand you need to make a play
3. If anyone has raised, that DRAMATICALLY increases the quality of hand you need to play
4. The more people left to act behind you, the riskier it is to play.