Odd format -- how do I play this?

[Rorgg]

Here's the relevant info I have from the ad:

Players will draw for table and seat assignments and will all start with 4,000 in tournament chips.
Blinds will start out at 25 & 50 and go up in 15 minute rounds. Play continues at each table until there are only two players remaining, The top two players from each first round table will advance to the finals. All advancing players will start out with 40,000 in chips, blinds will start at 500 and 1,000 and will go up in 20 minute levels.

Then it says ITM will be top half of the people in the final round.

So... what, do I play the preliminary round like a one-table satellite?

[drmcboy]

I would play fast in the first round with say your first 2k chips to see if you can get a big stack going, then if it doesn't pan out, lock down and hope you can pick up a few big pairs and survive.

[WildBobAA]

Since the top 2 from the first table advance and get the same stack, if you do get a big stack at your first table, just kind of sit back and let the other players knock each other out. Surviving is more important than accumulating.

[tonyj444]

Surely you play this very similar to just a regular stt? Sure, u get a massive stack, no need 2 risk it, but conversely, no need 2 do anythin daft to get that big stack. Just play the cards as they come?

[Rorgg]

Here's a hand from early on...

OK, so 5000 stacks, blinds start 25/50 but raise quickly, top 2 at table move on.

First hand, Villain, Victim, and 2 others limp in. Flop is 7QQ. Villain checks to Victim, who bets 400. Villain raises 1500. Victim all-in. Call.

Victim shows AQ
Villain shows 77

No Q or A on the turn or river, and Villian's over 10k after 1 hand. At this point, Villian starts playing pretty much every hand and calling left and right.

I sit for a couple hands, then pick up J8o on the BB and check in. Flop comes up 864r. I bet about 200, get 2 folds and 2 calls. Turn is a Q that I check and it checks around. River's an ace that I check/fold, the other two callers show A2o and A3o for a chop.

Two hands later, I pick up JJ on the button. I raise pre-flop to 200. Villain and one other call. Flop comes up 8-high. I bet 300, Villain calls, 1 fold. Turn is a J. I push and he gives it a lot of thought before folding 22 face-up. "Nice bet" he says.

The following hand, I pick up T9o in the cutoff, with the button not at the table. Couple limpers (including Villain) so I raise to 200. Villain calls. Fop is 9-high. Check, I bet 300, Villain calls. Turn is an A. Check, I bet 500, villain calls. Check, I check the river, and villain flips like A5o to win.

Two hands later I pull AQo. Villain's in the SB. It folds to me, and I raise to 200. Villain calls. Flop is 88J. Villain checks, I bet 400. Call. Turn is a Q. Villain checks to me. I bet 800. He raises to 2000. Flat calling the raise will leave me with about 2100. Blinds go up to 50/100 next hand, and are raising about every 8 hands.

... what do you do?

[zenbitz]

Unless you think he calls your flop bet with QX (we know he will play it pre-flop), you kinda have to give him credit for something that beats top pair. Note that when he turned top pair previously, he did not raise.

9T, QJ, any 8 has you crushed. Also, if he's pushing you around, he'll typically put you all in, not raise you half your stack.